Redbreast 27 Year

Another year, none the wiser. I’ve made it a point to have a special dram on my bday. This year, it’s this rare beauty, sent courtesy of @ctbeck11 . Just to note…he was gracious enough to resend the pour after the first one broke in transit. Out of 6-7 samples in the box, the Whiskey God decided to choose the best one for himself (or herself). This is the oldest Irish whiskey I’ve had. And what a treat it is. You have to let it rest out a bit, and add just a drop or two of water. Really opens up to a floral aroma, but not too cloyingly flowery. And the taste is strawberries ( cited as red currants by the Distiller reviewer, but I’ve never had red currants…so, going with strawberries). Strawberries, cream, viscous…it’s fruity, but really keeps it measured and controlled. An amazing pour…pricey though. Thanks @ctbeck11 for the pour!!

Neat. Sample - batch 2. Not everyday you can celebrate a promotion at the same time you receive a sample like this. So excited. I have come across this bottle on three occasions but the price tag always scares me away. On the nose, glazed fruit for days and days. Strawberries, cherries, raspberries. It’s ridiculous. Fruit Pebbles even. Getting this lovely, delicate vanilla angel’s food cake. Covered in powdered sugar. Getting hints of milk chocolate too. It has heat behind it too. Usually I can bury my nose in anything like a truffle hunting pig but I have to back off this one a bit. Getting this nice velvety oak now too. Creamy and oily texture. Darker on the tongue than I was expecting and packed with flavor. Brown sugar, Sherry, and oak shine through immediately. Transitions to that fruit covered angel’s food cake mid palate. Finishes with a blast of port, hint of chocolate and glazed fruits. And the finish is super long and even swallowing my saliva brings back a wave of the fruits. So much Sherry and port influence it is hard to tell there is an Irish Whiskey behind it. Each sip is a joy ride of fruits and wines. It is so easy drinking too, goes down like a juice box or a sip of wines versus something 107 proof. I don’t think this makes me want to spend $500 on a bottle but it definitely takes the throne as my favorite Irish Whiskey to date.

The nose begins with port notes shining through with tropical fruits of guava, passion fruit, kiwi, papaya then fades away revealing the bourbon barrel with sour cherries, baked apples, rich caramel corn before fading and tagging in the sherry barrel with chocolate covered raisins, grape must that transitions into a light spice along with barrel spices, leather and a light cedar note with light ethanol burn. The taste is a viscous mouthfeel beginning with those port notes of guava, passion fruit, kiwi, papaya, lychee fruit then fades away revealing the bourbon barrel with sour cherries, orange peel, baked cinnamon apples, rich caramel corn and toasted walnuts followed by the sherry barrel with chocolate covered raisins, grape must that transitions into a medium spice along with barrel spices, leather and a moderate cedar note with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long with guava, passion fruit, lychee fruit, watermelon jolly rancher, stewed cinnamon apples, sherry grape must, chocolate covered raisins, orange peel, a medium spice, candied ginger, leather and a cedar plank that lingers for minutes. Overall this is a phenomenal whiskey that rewards time and patience to really appreciate because if rushed you’d mainly find tropical fruits with a bit of spice, but as time passes the bourbon and sherry notes begin to reveal themselves as additional layers that flow harmoniously showcasing the artisan work in the complexity, depth and balance of this well aged older whiskey. A huge thank you to @ctbeck11, who was generous enough to provide me with a sample of this to review.

Perfect.

Batch 2- i guess I should add a new whisky but I don't have my phone or the patience to add a whisky via a phone. Nose - Classic Irish effervescence with red fruits and lightly toasted cream and sugar. Just this wonderful old world aged whisky. A lot of plumbs and pears and just general fruity notes with light baking and dessert spices. Taste - Rich old oak, plumbs, chocolate, super spicy. I'm digging the fruits. I respect the spicy notes. I'm actually reminding myself of the last one, I get this IPA grape fruit / hop kind of note. Perhaps a tropical australian style hop. The more I go back perhaps it is toffee and caramel vs chocolate. Or maybe all 3. Just a neck pour and I'm going to explore this is a bit more with a comp before I give it a score. OK so next to the dair ghaelach the added age is coming through and the intensity of the wine cask influence is really intense. I'd not realized how intense as this is a blend of likely port, sherry, and likely bourbon though you could talk me into some kind of light virgin or recharred influence. I'd be down for a side by side with batch 1, but based on memory this is more wine and spice but not as nicely balanced. Could just need time. Same score as the last one. 4.25. I think again this is worth about 400. I paid 450, a slight over pay imo. Though with a few of my favorites for 500 now hard to find under 600, I may be out of luck.

Nose is a little harsh. Carries the heat well. Oily. Strawberry Starburst candy. Bitter, prickly stone fruit that almost has a kitty litter note. Water adds a slightly sweet vanilla.