#Red breast whiskey full

Raspberry and tangerine bring a brighter, more typically Irish note. Nose: impressively aromatic, with hints of sour berries, plenty of cassis, as well as cherry and blackberry jams. Cask #82858 was selected by Master Blender Billy Leighton in collaboration with Willie Jack from The Friend at Hand. One of their shop bottlings was this Readbreast All Sherry Single Cask, matured for 25 years. A little old-fashioned perhaps, as they don’t seem to have an online presence. They are a specialist whiskey retailer, with regular independent shop bottlings and events. I’ve never been to Northern Ireland but this retailer seems to be a lovely place with a great sense of history. It’s like walking through a spicy bakeshop (if something like that existed).The Friend at Hand is a small whiskey shop in the heart of Belfast. The 46% ABV helps create a great oily texture that provides just enough bite.įinish: Did someone add a little extra spice into those baked goods? Redbreast 21 features a long and lingering finish with generous amounts of spice mixed with notes of lemon curd, sugar cookies, and ginger. This is a rich whisky with a great mouthfeel. These are classic Irish whisky flavors cranked up to 11. Then comes a lovely lemon note with a bit of acidity that cuts through the sweetness and provides excellent balance. Melon, pear, and a light toasted wood keep the sweet note theme going. The fruit notes are younger – almost like green apples versus a candied red apple.

#Red breast whiskey full

That classic Irish pot still character is on full display here. It begins with a lovely creamy sweetness of vanilla, honey, and candied almonds. The layers here are complex, deep, yet bright and approachable. This is an incredible nose – one I would happily sit for hours and enjoy. Then as the whisky sits in the glass, rich stewed fruits arrive with a dollop of coconut and tangy cream. Nose: On the first whiff, this whiskey bursts out of the gate with honey, lemon zest, and short crust pastry. I just didn’t realize how good.Ĭask: First fill ex-bourbon and first fill Sherry After falling in love with the entire Redbreast line over the last few years, I figured that it was time to try what some have called the best Irish whiskey in the world. I picked up this particular bottle at the Dublin Airport for closer to $150 (duty free). It sits near the top of the Redbreast line (second only to the newly released Redbreast 27), and retails for around $250 in the US. It’s aged for at least 21 years at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, it uses first fill ex-bourbon and ex-sherry barrels and features a traditional Irish pot still style of malted and unmalted barley that is triple distilled for extra smoothness. Suffice it to say that people love this whiskey.Īnd looking at what Redbreast 21 brings to the table – there’s a lot to love. Redbreast 21 is probably the most awarded Irish whiskey in history.Īnd while I haven’t substantiated that claim, if you take a look at its awards cabinet, you’ll find that it’s won Jim Murray’s Irish Whiskey of the Year, World’s Best Pot Still Whiskey, Best in Show at the SF World Spirits Competition, and probably 100 other superlative awards across the industry.