Redbreast Lustau Edition – Global Launch
Redbreast on the 2nd of September 2016 introduced a new and permanent expression to it’s already well recognised and award winning range.
The Global Launch was held at Bodegas Lustau in Jerez and I was honoured to be there and be a part of this wonderful launch.
This fine dram is firstly matured in traditional bourbon and sherry casks for between 9 and 12 years. It is then finished for an extra year in 1st fill specially selected sherry butts which have been seasoned with Bodegas Lustau’s finest Oloroso sherry.
At the launch we all sampled the Redbreast 12 Year Old together with a taste of the Oloroso sherry that is used to season the cask and finally the new Redbreast Lustau Edition.
The choice of Bodegas that Billy Leighton made (Midleton’s Head Blender) could not be better. Bodegas Lustau in Jerez is a very prestigious and world renowned producer of sherry and and it’s range is quite outstanding, they include manzanilla, fino, amontillado, palo cortado, oloroso, cream, muscatel, pedro ximenes together with a range of brandy’s and vinegar.
At the launch we all had a fantastic dinner laid out in the Bodegas which was quite spectacular and the meal by Dani Garcia a Michelin Star chef was sublime, with red and white wine to compliment the meal and of course Redbreast Lustau to complete the dinner.
After dinner we adjourned to the courtyard for more chat and some great cocktails or if you wished straight 12 year old and Lustau Edition Redbreast drams.
Now a bit more about the Lustau Edition
Redbreast Lustau Edition – Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 46% Alc/vol
Colour…Andalusian sunrise
Nose…Rich dark fruits, treacle tarts, shaved oak, a touch of barley sugar.
Taste…Spicy like ginger snap biscuits, sherry soaked sultanas, more sweet oakiness, it has quite a savoury complexity, this one is quite elegant.
Finish…Long, sweet and a touch spicy with the oak taking the last bow.
The Lustau Edition now brings the Redbreast family up to five, Lustau Edition sits between the 12 year old and the 12 year old cask strength and it’s other brothers are the 15 and 21 year old.
A very fine and complex dram. Priced at £55.00 it must be a good buy.
At the launch Billy Leighton said “With Redbreast Lustau Edition, we seized the opportunity to celebrate the iconic Sherry influence on the Redbreast range, and to do this we turned to our friends at Bodegas Lustau to source the finest oloroso Sherry casks in the world,”
I found the launch a big success and the chat from many of the invited guest was all positive, no one had any negative words to say and the sight of empty Whiskey glasses certainly said a great time was had without any words.
I finish of now by giving a BIG THANKS to Nathan Nye for the invite and to all at Richmond Towers and Irish Distillers for a classic and exceptional launch.