One of the things that I dislike about running this site is that I tend to focus on the “new.” New whiskeys, new experiences. Even if a whiskey isn’t new, it might be new to me. And I know what you’re thinking. “Why that sounds like the dream, right there.” And honestly, it is. But there is a downside. The downside is that when you don’t repeat often, you kind of lose track of what you’ve liked previously. You know that you like it, but you just don’t ever buy it. And it’s partly because of the need for content and also because there are limited funds and (contrary to popular opinion) limited capacity for responsible consumption.
A case in point is tonight’s whiskey. Before this bottle you see above, I last bought this in June of 2012. I know that because that early in this site’s history (my third ever post), I was still trying to find my voice and wrote about everything, even buying a new bottle of whiskey. I wrote about that because buying a new-to-me bottle of whiskey was exciting. And the reason I never bought it again wasn’t that I didn’t like it, but because…well…there was everything else that needed to be experienced, tasted, and then written about.
I think 2021 might end up being the year where I force myself to just buy things that I like but haven’t bought in a while. Not everything needs to be new and exciting. Some things are just consistently good. And I need to revisit as much of that as I can. Even if I don’t end up writing about it.
So, Redbreast. I’m sure I’m not surprising anyone by saying that my area of expertise (if I have one) is not Irish Whiskey. Considering that I think this is the third or fourth Irish Whiskey post in the last nine years, I think it might be better to leave the background section to the people who make their living talking about this whiskey.
Our signature bottling, Redbreast 12 boasts the flavour complexity and distinctive qualities of Pot Still whiskey. Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, the distinctive Redbreast sherry style is a joy to behold in each and every bottle. Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in copper pot stills, Redbreast 12 boasts the flavour complexity and distinctive qualities of Pot Still whiskey.
Ok. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s dig in.
Redbreast 12 year old
Purchase Info: $49.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33
Details: 40% ABV. 12 years old.
Nose: Red Delicious apples, mint, and a hint of baking spice.
Mouth: Dried fruit, baking spices, mint, oak.
Finish: Delicate and on the longer side of medium. Notes of cinnamon, dried fruit, and oak.
Thoughts: This is so good. This just underscores my desire to revisit more things that I’ve liked but then never picked up again. It’s delicate. It’s fruity. It’s delicious. It is a really nice change of pace for a bourbon guy like me.
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