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
- 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.
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