There seems to be somewhat of a cult following of the cask strength version of the standard 12 year old Redbreast offering. Irish whisky hasn't really caught my attention before but I had to grab a sample of this when the opportunity came around and I've been itching to pour it ever since. Here we go!
1.0 (Deep copper)
Nose
This is a strong whisky of course, and it's noticeable on the nose. One can smell the strength - citric notes are mixed with tiny hints of ethanol/solvent. Not too bad though, as there is a rich fruitiness and tasty vanilla beneath that first rough introduction. A little sharp welcoming perhaps, but it's easily forgiven.
Palate
Absolutely no signs of being close to 60% ABV here. Sherried, creamy, nutty, fruity. Well-rounded, intense, velvety and delicious.
Finish
Long finish which brings out more fruit along with toffee and biscuits.
If it hadn't been for the initial tiny nose hit, this would have been a deceivingly easy-to-drink dram. The alcohol is well hidden, and I would guess that it also carries with it some of the richness and the long, nice finish. Nothing out of the ordinary to be found though, balance seems to be key here but I'm not complaining. It's very good. Whiskies of this caliber ABV-wise often shapehift when water is added, but after a short experiment I concluded that it didn't change much. The palate got a bit more citric and actually let more(!) alcohol notes through. Won't be adding water here again, as it is absolutely great just as it is.
Score
84 / 100
0-50 Subpar
51-60 Drinkable
61-70 Decent
71-80 Good
81-90 Great
91-100 Fantastic
Image used with permission from www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com
| Country | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Brand | Redbreast |
| Distillery | New Midleton Distillery |
| Title | Cask Strength Edition |
| Classification | Single Pot Still |
| Abv (%) | 59.9 |
| Age | 12 |
| Batch/Cask | Batch B1-13 |
| Chill Filtration | Non-chill filtered |
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