Redbreast 12 Cask Strength Batch B1/17

This is my second batch of Redbreast 12 Cask Strength. I loved the B1/15 years ago. Personally, I think Irish—as well as Scotch—distilleries should all release uncut editions of their flagship expression, at least from time to time. Let’s see how Midleton did with this one. Nose: Rich plum, raisin, date, and fig notes. Shortbread cookie, toffee, vanilla, and caramel. Big time black cherry note with some apple, pear, and apricot in there. Very floral. Grassy and woody notes that I got from the standard 12 year. Heavy oak coupled with light cinnamon and other baking spice. Very nice. Palate: Heavy walnut, cashew, and pistachio. Orange soda adds some extra sweetness to the fruit I got from the nose. The black cherry, apple, pear, and apricot are still present. Milk chocolate, cocoa, brown sugar, vanilla frosting, caramel, toffee, graham cracker, and shortbread cookie. Rounded out with oak, cinnamon and other baking spices. Finish: Cashew, walnut, and almond. Black cherry, Gala apple, and pear. Shortbread cookie, toffee, brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla. Orange soda hits in a big way as toward the end and carries it until it fizzles out. At the same time, the cinnamon, baking spice, and oak brought this finish through to a fantastic conclusion. Long a finish as you’d expect of a 58.2% ABV whiskey. Amazing stuff. Much better than a remember it, and I loved it at the time. Granted, the two batches I’m comparing are a couple years apart. Not to mention, this one has a slightly higher ABV, which may be responsible for the added depth. Regardless of what it is that makes this so amazing, the fact is that this is a top tier whiskey. This is an easy competitor for my favorite Irish whiskey of all-time. And as a fact, it’s the strongest by ABV that I’ve had from the Emerald Isle. From start to finish, this is one of my favorites. The black cherry note is a great addition to the Redbreast flavor profile I’ve come to expect. At $85, this is a highway robbery.