Redbreast 12 Year Old
Pernod Ricard (Irish Distillers) · Midleton Distillery, Midleton, County Cork, Ireland
Redbreast 12 is the definitive pot still Irish whiskey — the one that shows you what the fuss is about. The 50/50 split of malted and unmalted barley creates a texture that’s impossible to achieve with malt alone: creamy, spicy, and full-bodied in a way that triple distillation normally smooths out. The combination of ex-bourbon honey and sherry dried fruit is seamless. The name comes from a bird-loving Gilbeys chairman in 1912, but the whiskey itself has roots stretching back much further — it’s one of only two single pot still brands produced nearly continuously since the early 1900s.
Nose
Dried orange peel, toasted nutmeg, toasted wood, vanilla, gentle spice
Palate
Silky smooth — cinnamon, clove, toffee, marzipan, fragrant vanilla, dried fruits, walnut
Finish
Lengthy and satisfying with lingering baking spices, custard, and balanced malt sweetness
- Mash Bill
- 50% Malted Barley, 50% Unmalted Barley (Munster-sourced)
- Distillation
- Triple Distilled in Copper Pot Stills
- Maturation
- Ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — The Redbreast Orchard: 2 oz Redbreast 12 · 1 oz fresh pressed apple cider · 1/2 oz honey syrup · 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Garnish with a thin apple fan.
Food Pairing
Pair with: Warm apple crumble with vanilla custard — the orchard fruit and baking spice in both are a natural match.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Powers John's Lane 12 Year Old
Pernod Ricard (Irish Distillers)
Jameson Black Barrel
Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard; Jameson, est. 1780)
Jameson Black Barrel is what happens when the world's most approachable Irish whiskey gets a lesson in patience. The key difference from standard Jameson is the double-charred bourbon barrels — a process where spent barrels are re-charred before the whiskey goes in, reactivating the wood's sugars and deepening the flavor extraction. It's an extra step that takes extra time, and the result is a whiskey with noticeably more weight, complexity, and character. The pot still component adds a creamy, spicy backbone that the grain whiskey alone couldn't provide, and the char gives everything a toasty, caramelized edge. At its price point, Black Barrel may be the best value in Irish whiskey — complex enough to sip neat, versatile enough for cocktails, and proof that patience in the cooperage pays dividends in the glass.
The Quiet Man Traditional Irish Whiskey Bourbon Cask Matured
The Quiet Man
The Quiet Man lives up to its name with a whiskey that values restraint over spectacle. It demonstrates how careful bourbon-cask maturation can produce something luminous in its clarity — an Irish blend that makes transparency feel like a deliberate art. An ideal daily pour that rewards attentive, unhurried sipping.
Keeper's Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength
Keeper's Heart
Keeper's Heart Cask Strength is a fascinating study in how air and atmosphere shape whiskey — Irish pot still softness meets American bourbon boldness at full power, and the marriage breathes new character into both traditions. The higher proof rewards a splash of water, which opens up delicate floral and fruity notes hidden beneath the oak. A compelling conversation-starter that earns its place alongside more established names.
The Dubliner 6yr Cask Strength Double Barrel Irish Whiskey
The Dubliner
This cask-strength double-barrel expression punches well above its modest price point, delivering a richness and complexity that speaks to careful cask selection. The six years of maturation provide enough oak influence to give structure without overwhelming the grain character. A perfect fireside pour as the harvest season draws to its close.
Kinahan Small Batch Irish Whiskey
Kinahan's
Kinahan's Small Batch is an Irish whiskey that earns its place through careful blending and a thoughtful non-chill-filtered approach at a robust 46% ABV. It delivers well above its modest price point, offering the kind of textured, layered experience that rewards attention without demanding it. A quietly confident pour that fits perfectly into the 'earned through craft' ethos.