Tasting an Irish Gem – Redbreast 12 Year Old

It is early evening and Nicola has just walked in, so the tasting of another Irish dram can begin, and tonight it is going to be:-

Redbreast 12 Year Old Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 40% Alc/vol 70cl

Irish Distillers is a subsidiary of the French Drinks Company Pernod Ricard and it was acquired in 1988 in a friendly takeover. Irish Distillers Group was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish Whiskey Distillers John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company.

The Whiskies in their stable are:

Jameson Whiskey
Powers Whiskey
Paddy Whiskey
Redbreast Whiskey
Midleton Whiskey
Green Spot, a dram that is only for Michell & Son Wine Merchants

Irish Distillers also produce:-

Huzzar Vodka
Cork Dry Gin

Check out their website and have a look at their full range of Whiskey or use our Whisky shop window below and purchase a few bottles for your own collection.

This Irish dram is only one of few pure pot still Whiskies being produced today and is the only one with an age statement. As pure pot still Whiskies jus some unmalted barley they cannot call it a single malt Whiskey.

Colour…Light golden syrup

Nicola’s Tasting

Nose…Sweet as a honey pot, tropical paradise.
Taste…Pineapple cubes and coconuts, ultra smooth like pure sweet honey, delicious.
Finish…Medium with a good hint of Jamaican rum.

Score…4 Corks

Jim’s Tasting

Nose…Honey, bourbon, oak, Barr’s American cream soda.
Taste…Sweet sugar coated fruit, a clean mouthful of spice, barley comes in, treacle toffee and sherry, a superb dram.
Finish…Medium/long finish, sherry, spice and honey all enjoying lingering on my palate.

Score…3.5 Corks

Overall score…4 Corks

After the Green Spot giving us a big wow, along came Redbreast which did exactly the same a wonderfully rich sherried and honey laden dram, this Whiskey is also one to be a regular in our Whisky cabinet.

So when you visit your Whisky supplier, shop or on line you will need to buy both drams Green Spot and Redbreast, and neither of these will look out of place sitting next to the best Scottish Malts.