Redbreast 12 years old, Single Pot Still Cask Strength /57,6%/ – The origins of the Redbreast brand are little obscured; W. & A. Gilbey introduced it in the late 1930s and the story goes that the chairman of Gilbey was an avid birdwatcher and the brand name was entirely his idea. The original whiskey was sourced from Jameson’s Bow Street Distillery. Gilbey ceased production of Redbreast in 1985 and soon sold the brand to Irish Distillers, who re-launched in in 1991. Currently the brand is owned by Pernod Ricard and is produced at Midleton Distillery. Redbreast 12 years old Cask Strength was launched in 2011 (Batch 1/11) and gained outstanding reviews. Batch B1/20 (first batch released in 2020) is a vatting of triple distilled single pot still whiskeys aged in ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks bottled at 57.6% abv.
Nose: fruits and herbs, blackberries, black currants, oranges, thyme, rosemary, aniseed, cinnamon, clove, coffee beans, vanilla, toffee and hints of leather.
Palate: slightly oily, raisins and sultanas, damson jam, honeydew melon, white pepper, cinnamon, dark chocolate, hints of licorice and toasted oak.
Finish: fairly long, with notes of tropical fruits, mixed berries, dark chocolate, nutmeg, pepper, caramel and toasted oak.
