Delicious. Everyone here reading this has probably either tried the standard Redbreast 12 or heard its virtues extolled by others on this site and beyond. It is the quintessential Irish whiskey in my opinion. What Middleton has done here is presented that form of perfection in its full unadulterated cask strength glory. The initial nose comes bellowing out of the glass with the ethanol (something more associated with CS bourbons or Islay whiskies than Irish!). This one had to sit for a while while I nosed and contemplated it. All the shortbread biscuit and sherry notes are there but they’re dialed WAY up to 11 on this edition. I took a sip and let it sit on my palate for a bit and came back 20 minutes later, which helped tone down the ethanol. From there only happiness ensued. One of the fun things about CS whiskies is that you essentially get to pick your proof. I played a little game with myself, adding a splash of water every two or three sips until I found a comfortable drinking proof (which in hindsight I suspect was close to the standard Redbreast 12’s 40%). That took about three splashes of water (a most technical and academic of terms) to bring it down compared to my usual one. The dram was still complex and delicious at every stage but I feel that it achieved maximum “drinkability” after more water than usual. If you get the CS version you can try for yourself. Good news is I still have most of a bottle left to continue dialing in my ideal amount. Where I live this edition cost about $17 more than the standard 12 for the cask strength. Most worth it in my opinion. Redbreast 12 has been one of my favorites since I first tried it, and this edition allows me to experience it in the most personalized and optimal way possible. Highest marks!