Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength

Redbreast is an Irish Pure Pot Still whiskey, meaning the mashbill contains both malted and unmalted barely. It is created at the Old Middleton distillery. The Redbreast 12 Year Old and 15 Year Old are already highly regarded, but since the end of 2011 a 12 Year Old cask strength edition has been added to the range. It is bottled at a massive 57,7% ABV. The first batch is a vatting of 68 casks, a mix of bourbon and oloroso cask, so there is plenty to go around.

A very stout nose on baked banana, drenched in caramel. Creamy! A lot of spices, to many to name, enriching the nose tremendously. It literally makes my mouth water. Fairly straightforward, but oh so good!

It explodes on the palate. Vanilla, milk chocolate, preserved fruit, grain and quite some oak. Thanks to the cask strength, it is very spicy with hot chili and woodspice in the lead. Again very creamy with a large dose of caramel and toffee. Boy, this is so enjoyable. Not overly complex, but who cares when a whiskey is that good?

The finish is very long, very sweet and spicy. Vanilla and caramel linger a long time.

I already enjoyed the Redbreast at drinking strength, but this is extremely nice (for an Irish, at least). Around 65 EUR, although I have not seen it around in Belgium too much. Recommended!

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

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