Redbreast Lustau Edition

Redbreast Lustau is a NAS single pot whiskey. The whiskey is matured between 9 to 12 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks, before being vatted and finished in first-fill oloroso sherry butts from Bodegas Lustau in Jerez for an additional year. Non-chill-filtered, it is bottled at 46% ABV. It pours a light amber touched with a reddish hue. The nose is spice and honey and a backdrop of ripe plum and fig. In the mouth those same flavors burst forth, first the honey and spice of the pot still, and than the fruitiness of the sherry influence which is full and enveloping. It is at the point you begin to notice the gentle warmth of the 46%ABV.. I am enjoying this very much. I am not going to say this is better than the wonderful 12 year old. However, it is perhaps as good, and is different enough to warrant a space in your home.

Well my affection for the 12 year runs deep. I also love sherry finished scotch or bourbon for that matter(Belle Meade). I figured the combo of the luscious pot still and sherry fruit notes would be a great marriage....lets find out. Poured neat, nose brings subtle notes of malt, dusty book jacket, macadamia and buttery oak. Very similiar the the 12. If you are patient and dig a little deeper you can get some of the sherried fruits but they are not in your face. Typical excellent pot still mouthfeel is a highlight. Palate is creamy malt and avocado oil with some nutty flair and dusty oak just like the 12 but we now get tangy fruit trying to cram into the experience. Its not entirely cohesive imo. This continues on the finish with the tannic spin of the sherry modifying the rich buttery oak cleanness that Redbreast is known for. It doesnt ruin it per se just muddles the waters a bit. This sounds like a negative review but I really do like the whiskey. Its just the balance is a bit off for me. I prefer the natural purity of the 12 yr but this is one that many will love. In the end I cannot drop this much below an A rating but I prefer the standard 12 ........86/100.....Both are same price in my area

RBL a delightful marriage between a bourbon cask and oloroso sherry cask—should make for an interesting blend of sweet/fruit/spice—the bottle is finished in the Lustau Sherry cask for an additional year. The aromatics—a surprisingly sweet nose that is accompanied by notes of dates/figs, and a rich sweet aroma are really forward for a very simple aroma, but lacks the depth and complexity of the RB12. The taste—this taste is very different from the aromatics, the spice is forward and rich, delicate notes of figs coat the tongue and enrich the experience, but surprisingly there’s not a whole lot coming out in the first few drams. Although the bite is pleasant making for an easy drink, it hasn’t offered much in terms of finish. At this point, the Lustau was a bit of a disappointment, although I try not to let anticipation influence my review, I really expected those notes of sherry and bourbon cask to be noticeable and discernible, but at this moment it was balanced but completely flat in terms of taste, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it tastes good, but the experience was left to be desired.