Redbreast PX Edition

I had wandered into the liquor section of the grocery store near work, hoping to find a bottle of my favorite Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength, or barring that a bottle of the regular 12 Year (shelves have not been well stocked). The store had neither, but in a locked cabinet they had this thing, which I had never heard of. So I looked it up on Redbreast’s web site and found nothing. I searched around online for a while and finally found a couple of reviews which sounded promising. On that tenuous recommendation I bought the bottle and took it home. All I can say is CANDY. This is a delicious bottle and I’m going to enjoy every lingering sip of it, knowing that I’ll never see it on a shelf again.

Neck pour tasting and it's amazing. The nose is full with fruity aromas that are not overpowering and have a great balance. The palate evolves over time, as in my first drink it was mostly fruits, but by my fourth, I started to pick up traces of chocolate/coffee?. The finish is medium with a little peppery/spicy. At 46 ABV, this is very enjoyable. The only negative is the price.... Many distilleries are creating these special releases, but then, Whamo! The price are so high.

Sweet bright and fruity. Dark and deep fruit. Light grassiness. Medicinal or herbaceous mid palate. Sherry comes on the nose.

Nose opens with lots of fruits and as I was trying to discern them, it hit me…this smells a lot like a fruit cocktail. Which (and I had to look this up) apparently contains peaches, pears, pineapple, grapes and cherries. So yeah, all of that. Add dates, plum, a hint of licorice and soft, fresh cut oak tree. Smells really inviting. The palate does not disappoint. I will say that from that fruit cocktail nose only pear and grape make it through to the palate, along with date, fig, toffee, golden raisin, milk chocolate, pomegranate, and nutmeg, Flavors are richer than the ABV would indicate. Mouthfeel is light and airy; a perfect match for the flavor profile and proof. It’s hard to call this fruity and sweet of a whiskey “balanced” but maybe…harmonious (?) as everything comes together rather perfectly. Finish transitions from the palate in a slow, measured fashion. Oak and spices come in bringing with it a slight bitterness that really helps this from becoming cloying from the sweetness. The bulk of the finish is relatively short but lingering notes of allspice and cinnamon last way longer than expected. Darker and sweeter than the Lusteau edition, this is by all means a delight. Now, I must get something off my chest: damn you Redbreast. Damn you straight to hell for making a delicious 92 proof whiskey that retails for $119.00! Grrr. Literally the price point is the only thing keeping this from being a straight up 5.0. And yet…I still might buy another. I clearly have a problem with delectable, high priced Irish Whiskeys. Someone stop me.

Good