Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey
Updated March 12, 2023
By Richard Thomas
Average Rating: B+
(Credit: Richard Thomas)
When Barry Crockett retired as Master Distiller for Irish Distillers in 2013 after 47 years with the company, his principal legacy was preserving the distinctly Irish style of pot still whiskey. Yet it was not until relatively modern times, albeit still under Crockett’s tenure, that the same Cork County distillery that has Jameson as its bread and butter committed to pushing single pot still whiskey. When it did, it was with Redbreast 12 Year Old that they made the initial shove.
Prior to Redbreast, if one was one of the very few with an interest in pot still whiskey, the best that could be done was to buy a blend with a higher proportion of pot still, such as Powers or Irishman. Redbreast took international whiskey circles by storm, winning high marks and many, many titles and gold medals. This plus the fact that it is the most widely and readily available expression of its kind make it the single pot still whiskey.
The Whiskey
Out of the green glass bottle and into the glass, this 40% abv whiskey has a bright, rich gold coloring, like honey with just the slightest twist of copper in it.
The nose is fruity floral, creamy, and laden with cake spice and caramel, the latter so much so that you could be forgiven for thinking the spirit was aged primarily in ex-bourbon barrels. That would be wrong. Some of it was, but the majority comes from ex-sherry casks.
The palate is thick, smacking of floral citrus sweetness and nuttiness, leaning to marzipan and a touch of sherry-cum-dried fruits. Not so much caramel as before, but plenty of spiciness stirred in to enhance the sweet side of the flavor.
The finish is a long, mild one, despite the heft and full-bodied nature of the scent and taste, making this one of those Irish whiskeys that is perfect for summertime drinking. No ice is necessary, just down it neat.
I don’t rave about Redbreast 12 Year Old the way some people do, but I might have had I discovered it about five or six years earlier than I did. As it is, I just plain like the stuff and would make it a staple if it were only a bit cheaper.
Addendum by Douglas Fraser
Color: Copper Gold
Nose: Rich fruitiness, red berries, sherry, nutty (almonds/cashews), creamy sweetness, floral, and toasted wood.
Palate: Silky and smooth, red berries, buts, charred oak, leather, sherry, creamy, and mild spiciness.
Finish: Long and spicy, lingering sherry, leather, and toasted wood.
The Price
The official price on Redbreast 12 is now $66, and the online retailer average pegs the price at very, very near that: $67.
The Redbreast 12 today is definitely different than the Redbreast 12 from five or six years ago. Not quite as good as it once was. About a “B” as you have given it while in the past it might have been an A- or B+. I still enjoy this today as an occasional pour on a hot summer evening as a change of pace from my normal Glenmorangie Original.