Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength

This is an impressive whiskey. Very tasty considering the high ABV. Complex palate and long finish. A word of advice, give this one some time to breathe. It can be a little harsh if you drink immediately after pouring. Letting it settle in the glass for about 15 minute does wonders for this one.

Heaven in a bottle. This is a must own for every whiskey enthusiast. Best with a drop of water or two.

Nose: Dried Fruit, mint, Anise, Robotussin, with a hint of Ash Palate: Rich, meaty, deep, concentrated smoke, sharp cheese, vanilla cream Finish: Wet oak, oily seaweed, sides of the tongue. Long and strong but mellows out gradually. Notes: So rich and delicious. Score: 92

33 open bottles in my collection ranked through multiple blind tastings. Counting them down! #2: Redbreast Cask Strength. Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. 57.2% ABV. 12 years old. Batch No. B1/16 Paid $73 A little hard to find. It’s an automatic buy when you find it. This could’ve been $100, and still be a good purchase in today’s market, where Scottish distilleries are releasing NAS cask strength sherry matured whiskies for ~$100. Redbreast 12 CS is not a sherry bomb, but it is still an explosion of sweet flavors that are preferable to single-minded young sherry whiskies. This is Redbreast with spikes. Huge, dense nose. Lightly toasted wood, caramel, marshmellows. Salted vanilla butterscotch with secondary sherry notes. On the palate, this is hot, and almost too intense. Some water mellows this out, but I have Redbreast 15 and 21 if I wanted a mellow experience. You really want to slowly sip this thing of beauty, so your tastebuds can get accustomed to the volume. Initially, it’s just like flavors shouting; everything is strong, but nothing stands out. With time and acclimation, you get the richest, most viscous vanilla and caramel flavors, with a fruity acetone aftertaste that lingers. If price were not a consideration, I prefer the Redbreast 21 year, just slightly, but that bottle is 3-4x the price of this Redbreast 12 CS, which offers incredible bang for the buck, and is one of the best whiskies I’ve tasted this year. MARK: 94/100 PREVIOUSLY, ON BATMAN: #3: Glenkinchie. $190. 55.1% ABV. 20 years old. D1990/B2010. 93/100. #4: Caol Ila Unpeated Style. $173. 55.9% ABV. 17 years old. 93/100. #5: Paul John Peated Select Cask. $84. 55.5% ABV. NAS. 92/100. #6: Redbreast. $96. 43% ABV. 15 years old. 92/100. #7: Yamazaki. $74. 43% ABV. 12 years old. 92/100. #8: Lagavulin. $70. 43% ABV. 16 years old. 91/100. #9: Benromach. $65. 43%. 16 years. 91/100. #10: Talisker Distiller’s Edition. $72. 45.8%. D2000/B2011. 91/100.