Country:
Ireland
Brand:
Redbreast
Type:
Single Pot Still Whiskey
Age:
12
Alcohol:
40%
Colour:
Full Gold
Nose:
Very Complex! Give it some time to open up. Lots of Fruit in here. Ripe Dark
Red Fruits like Black Cherries but also Apples, Peaches and Pears. There are
some similarities with Rye-Whiskey as well. I get Wax, Spices and lightly
charred Oak. Nuts and Dried Fruits like Raisins and maybe Apricots. Sherry is present and so are Vanilla, Porridge, Brown Sugar and Orange Peel. Hints of Earth and
Sweet Marzipan or Marshmallows. I’m nosing this for almost half an hour already
and still I get new impressions. If I have to sum it up this smells like a
Multi-Flavoured Fruitcake prepared with Butter and decorated with Nuts, Dried Fruits and
Citrus Peels. Quite a Desert! After another half hour or so, I smelled the
empty glass again and I was rewarded with the very pleasant aromas of a Peach/Apricot
Pie. This is truly the best Nose of the Irish Whiskies I've tasted so far.
Taste:
A bit disappointing really after the great Nose. Rather dominating Spices, basically Black Pepper and Nutmeg. I also find
Nuts, Honey, Citrus Peels, Raisins, Sherry, Oak, Licorice, Toffee and Sugared
Banana Candies. Not really well-balanced.
Finish:
Middle-Long and slightly dry in the end with Vanilla, Black Pepper, Licorice,
Anise and a touch of Honey.
I
added a couple of drops of Water and you get some more Fruit Cake on the Nose. In
general however I didn’t find any substantial changes. Better enjoy this dram
neat!
Rating:
86
Nose: 23 – Taste: 21– Finish: 20.5 – Overall: 21.5
General
Remarks: This whiskey is produced at the Old Midleton Distillery in Cork, part
of the Pernod Ricard Group. Jameson is also produced at this complex. Redbreast
12 is the only aged Single Pot Still Whiskey at the moment, using malted and
un-malted Barley in the mash bill. It is Triple-Distilled and matures in
Oloroso Sherry - and Bourbon Casks.
Drinking
Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion:
Beautiful Complex Nose! If only Palate and Finish could maintain the same high
quality. It would have climbed to one of the top spots in my rankings so far. But
as so often, that’s not the case. The Spices are a bit too dominant. I’m slightly
disappointed really. It’s certainly a well-crafted Whiskey and it will serve well
as an after dinner dram. It is in the same class as the GlenDronach Allardice 18 for that purpose. But taste-wise, it’s not a whiskey I would need to keep in my cabinet at
all times. Although I would love to sniff it from time to time!
Jan
van den Ende October 7, 2012
