Redbreast Redbreast 15 Year Old NV 750ml

Matured in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, the nose is complex with chocolate brownie, toasted oak, well-integrated pot still spices, blackberry, toasted hazelnuts, prune, and raisin. It’s nutty and oily on the palate; just what you expect from a single pot still whiskey, as the spiciness builds to an epic peak, supported by fig, date, and jellied fruit. Wood spice, oakiness, and clove to finish.

Redbreast 12 year old is a classic pure pot still Irish whiskey; where can you go from there? This new 15 year old expression is more muscular (bottling at 46% and not chill filtering certainly helps), but there are trade-offs. It’s a bit closed on the nose (like a great Bordeaux wine that’s too young). I do enjoy the silky/oily texture, the bold resinous oak spice grip on the finish, and the rich nutty toffee, fig, black raspberry, chocolaty, chewy nougat throughout the palate. Still, it’s not as eminently drinkable, refined, or balanced as the 12 year old.

Lightly toasted bread, dried violets, dry breakfast cereal, Graham crackers, wet earth and allspice aromas. Midpalate is fueled by semisweet taste profile of homey, spice, barley, pepper and an ideal degree of abv.