REDBREAST, 12 year old - Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

© June '12    photo by sm

REDBREAST Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (note the 'e') from Middleton Distillery - aged 12 years in oaken casks and bottled at 40% Alc/vol.

No peat and fire here - just deep smoothness - so if you don't particularly want to try another fiery draught then read on and take heart that yes there are smooth Gaelic unblended whiskeys that are utterly delightful.  And I must note here that smooth does not imply bland - not at all.  This is a great easy to sip whiskey, yet there is still a depth and complexity of background flavors as in the best of Scotch single malts. I just finished at least two or three fingers of Redbreast, which is my third sampling in as many nights.  Once again it was so pleasant to drink that I quickly lost track of all the great things about it that I was going to put to paper for this posting - so for the time being let me borrow a few quotes from other devotees.  


"Scotland and Kentucky get the glory, but Ireland is no slouch when it comes to crafting fine, sippable whiskey. For potent proof, try an unblended whiskey like the oh-so-smooth Redbreast 12 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey ($45). Like single-malt Scotch, this Irish whiskey is aged — 12 years, in this case — in a single batch, not blended. But that's where the similarities with smoky Scotch end, because the flavor leans much closer to caramely bourbon" - YUMSUGAR blog

"Single Pot Still Whiskey:

It is unique to Ireland in general and to the Midleton Distillery, Co Cork, in particular, and is regarded as the quintessential style of Irish whiskey. Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills. Pot Still whiskeys are characterized by full, complex flavors and a wonderful creamy mouthfeel." -  WEINQUELLE .com 

"Color   Amber lager

 Nose   Ethanol, vanilla, maple sugar

 Body   Mildly syrupy

 Palate  Scotch followed by a wonderful praline, vanilla, maple syrup, gingerbread cookies

 Finish   Sweet, maple syrup, vanilla, bug spray

This is my favorite Irish whiskey. It has a Scotch-like complexity followed by a wonderful maple syrup-like sweetness. Not cloying like a bourbon, but sweet like a gingerbread cookie. A great dessert whiskey. Highly Recommended!   95"       MISTERBORK on FORPEATSAKE.com

I'm not sure where the 'bug spray' came from in this last one but everyone has there take, eh?  All in all a really fine (and award winning)  poteen - which Himself would give at least an 89.