Redbreast 12 review. Discover this great single pot still whiskey.
Last updated on August 22nd, 2024
For the lower end of the market, few whiskeys deliver so well as the Redbreast 12-year-old.
Very reasonably priced and surprisingly full of complex flavour, this Irish whiskey has to be one of my favourite single pot still whiskeys for the price.
Positioned as the entry-level Redbreast from the chaps at the Midleton distillery, it’s a pleasant dram worth trying if you’re new to Irish whiskey.
If you’re curious to try this whiskey, this Redbreast 12 review will explore the whiskey’s colour, scent and flavour profile – helping you decide if it’s worth grabbing a bottle.
Let’s dive in.
| Redbreast 12 quick look | |
|---|---|
| Nose | Sweet, oak, spices. Some apple, date, prune, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon. |
| Palate | Creamy and velvety, featuring caramel sweetness with oak richness. |
| Mouthfeel | Full bodied. |
| Finish | Drying, oaky. |
| Age | 12 years |
| Cask/Barrels | Ex-bourbon & sherry casks |
| Strength | 40% ABV / 80 Proof |
| Price | £53 / USD $69 |
Redbreast 12, detailed review
Image credit: Redbreast
Redbreast 12 Colour
Straight up, you should know this whiskey has been coloured with E150 caramel and has also been chill-filtered.
If that doesn’t bother you (as so many whiskies are indeed artificially coloured), the addition of caramel has resulted in a beautiful, rich amber hue that can’t help but draw you in.
Resulting from the chill filtering, the amber body is impeccably clear. This clarity adds to the allure of this Irish whiskey and makes it even more inviting to enjoy. If you like your whiskey on the rocks, there’s little to fear of any cloudiness.
Chill-filtering is a process used by many distilleries to remove some of the acids and proteins to prevent cloudiness (floculation) in the spirit at low temperatures. After ageing, the whisky is cooled to between 5-10°C and passed through a series of fine cellulose absorption filters.
Redbreast 12 Nose
Opening the bottle, this Irish whiskey emits an initial aroma of rich and sweet smells containing hints dried fruit, oak, and spice. Inspecting this further, I get smells of apple, date, and prune. Later, oaky and spicy notes containing hints of honey, vanilla, and cinnamon.
So far, this whiskey smells like a delicious blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Not bad at all on the first smell.
Having had a chance to breathe in my glass, Redbreast 12 develops a grassy sort of freshness underlying its initially spiced scents. Swirling releases additional caramel and citrus notes, along with a more pronounced alcohol kick.
This kick does begin to mask its finer notes slightly. This effect is fairly momentary, easily overcome with another swirl. It sort of comes in waves, if you get me.
Image credit: Redbreast
Redbreast 12 palate
Recently, I’ve been trying to be more patient with my pours, letting them breathe a little longer than I’m willing to wait. Around 10 mins does the trick.
On the first sip, the whiskey is warming with a sweet taste containing notes of buttery hot-cross buns, dried fruits, baking spices, and spicy oak. I always like to start neat, so there’s also a slight alcohol burn. Nothing jarring though.
Further-in, things start to opens up. The sweetness becomes more pronounced, with the taste of caramel and brown sugar coming through. (A nice counterpunch to the initial tase of spices.) If you’re a sweet whiskey lover, this is one of the more attractive and enjoyable aspects of this bottle.
The mouthfeel is fairly rich, heavy and oily, which I really like. With each sip, I notice I keep moving it around my mouth. It’s got great character and body, which I can put down to the pot still distillation method.
The finish is relatively dry which I presume comes from the ex-bourbon and sherry casks. The oaky notes are pleasing.
Redbreaast 12 Value
With an average price of around £50 ($69 USD) this whiskey would make an excellent gift for any occasion. For a 12 year old whiskey, it’s got ample flavours of sweet and spice with an addictively full-bodied mouthfeel.
Overall, the Redbreast 12 year old is an exceptionally well-balanced whiskey, with each sip revealing new layers of flavour. If you’re looking for a good-quality (but affordable) Irish whiskey to add to your collection, this easy-drinking dram should definitely be at the top of your list.
If you’re looking for an Irish whiskey that is sure to please, then look no further than Redbreast 12. This whiskey has something for everyone – from the sweet fruit notes on the nose, to the rich and spicy flavours on the palate.
The presentation
Packaged inside a robust presentation box, this whisky has a fairly restrained palette of burgundy, cream and gold. It’s a fitting colouration considering its avian title. These classy tones work nicely together and would look excellent on any drinks table, shelf or home bar.
As a gift, the Redbreast 12 has a charming aesthetic. The little robin illustration is enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face – and that’s before they’ve even drank it. For a self-purchase, this whiskey won’t jeopardise your monthly mortgage payment and is a real ‘staple’ for you to enjoy amongst your Irish selection of drams.
Redbreast 12 review – final thoughts
The Redbreast 12 year old Irish whiskey is a great entry-point to the Redbreast line-up. For the price, it’s flavoursome, complex, and great value for money. If you’re looking for a tasty Irish whiskey that won’t break the bank, then I highly recommend giving this one a try.
Whether you’re new to Irish whiskey or are already a fan of the emerald isle’s offerings, I reckon think you’ll be fairly impressed by this dram.
Hopefully you found this review helpful.
Thanks for stopping by.
Redbreast 12 review FAQ’s
Is Redbreast 12 Smooth?
Yes, Redbreast 12 is a relatively smooth whiskey. It has a heavy, oily texture with plenty of body. Having been triple distilled in single pot stills, it balances spice and sweet notes and is fairly easy to drink. Similar to the other Redbreast ‘flock’ this Irish whiskey is aged in first-fill ex-bourbon and sherry casks.
Is Redbreast 12 or 15 better?
In terms of flavour, both whiskies are incredibly smooth with a balanced sweetness. However, Redbreast 15 has more pronounced flavours thanks to its additional three years of ageing. On the nose, you can expect notes of sherry, dark fruits and spices. Whereas on the palate you’ll find flavours of dried fruits, chocolate and coffee.
The main difference between Redbreast 12 and 15 is the age of the whiskey. Redbreast 12 is a 12 year old Irish whiskey, whereas Redbreast 15 is a 15 year old Irish whiskey. As a result, Redbreast 15 will generally be more expensive than Redbreast 12.
What does Redbreast 12 taste like?
Redbreast 12 is a 12-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey that has been matured in a combination of first-use ex-bourbon and sherry casks. The whiskey has a sweet fruit aroma, with toasted oak and warm spices on the nose. On the palate, the Redbreast 12 offers notes of dried fruits, baking spices and oak. The finish is long and warming, with a pleasant sweet/spicy aftertaste.
Overall, Redbreast 12 is a delicious and balanced Irish whiskey that would be perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re new to Irish whiskey or a life long fan, I think you’ll love the Redbreast 12.
Is Redbreast the best Irish whisky?
The Redbreast range is just some of the finest Irish whiskeys the republic has to offer. Defining the best is entirely subjective, however, their ‘flock’ of 7 whiskeys are considered a robust range of varying complexity, depth of flavour and quality.
The Redbreast brand is owned by Irish Distillers, which owns and operates the Midleton distillery and there it makes its various brands, including Midleton, Paddy Powers, and the best known, Jameson.
Is Redbreast made by Jameson?
No. Redbreast and Jameson are separate subsidiary whiskey brands that are both owned by the beverage and spirits company Irish Distillers. At the Midleton distillery in County Cork, Irish Distillers own and operate the large distillery complex where they make Green Spot, Yellow Spot, The Irishman, Writers Tears, Paddy, Powers, Redbreast, Midleton and Jameson whiskeys.
Is Redbreast the same as Jameson?
Redbreast whiskey is not the same as Jameson. Redbreast is matured in both bourbon and sherry casks, while Jameson is matured in bourbon casks only. This gives Redbreast a more complex flavour profile, with notes of sweet fruit, toasted oak, and warm spices.
Although both these whiskeys are made in the Midleton distillery in County Cork (Ireland) they have their own unique maturation and distillation processes.
How do you drink Redbreast whiskey?
There are many ways to enjoy Redbreast whiskey, but these are three of the best:
1. Neat – Redbreast 12 is a delicious and balanced Irish whiskey that can be enjoyed neat when drank slowly. The smooth texture and well-rounded flavour profile make it a perfect sipping whiskey.
2. With water – Adding a little water to your Redbreast 12 opens up the flavours and aromas, enhancing the overall drinking experience.
3. On the rocks – For a slightly chilled version of Redbreast 12, pour over ice and enjoy. This particular method allows the whiskey to develop as the ice melts slowly as you drink it, creating a pleasing and gradual dilution.
Image credit: Irish Times
What are the 4 types of Irish whiskey?
1. Single Malt Irish Whiskey is made from 100% malted barley. It’s distilled by a single distillery in traditional copper pot stills and matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years.
2. Single Grain Irish Whiskey is made using an alternative predominant grain such as barley, wheat, corn or rye with a small portion of malted barley. Grain whiskies are typically column distilled (avoiding the use of pot stills).
3. Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is unique to Ireland, made from a minimum of 30% malted and 305 unmalted barley and distilled in traditional copper pot stills. This method was previously known as ‘Pure pot still’ or ‘Irish-style pot still’ whiskey.
4. Blended Irish Whiskey is made from malt and grain whiskeys (sometimes from various other distilleries) which are combined together to achieve a controlled and balanced flavour profile.
Image credit: Irish Times
The Midleton Distillery
Redbreast 12 year old Irish whiskey is one of the many whiskeys produced by the Midleton distillery. This distillery, which is located in Cork, Ireland, was founded by John Jameson in 1825 and is one of the most modern and largest distilleries in the world. Owned by Irish Distillers (a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard) the distillery complex hosts three enormous 75,000-litre pot stills and three column stills. These are the largest in the world and yield 64 million litres per year. The Midleton distillery is also the largest in Ireland.
What the distiller says
“Our signature bottling, Redbreast 12 boasts the flavour complexity and distinctive qualities of Pot Still whiskey. Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in copper pot stills, the 12 year old boasts the flavour complexity and distinctive qualities of Pot Still whiskey.
Matured in a combination of Bourbon seasoned American Oak barrels and Oloroso Sherry seasoned Spanish oak butts, the distinctive Redbreast sherry style is a joy to behold in each and every bottle.”
