This whiskey forms part of the highly acclaimed single pot still range from Redbreast. This 21 Years Old is made from a mash of malted and un-malted barley, as per Irish whiskey making law, and then triple distilled in copper pot stills. It has been matured in a combination of American oak ex-bourbon barrels and first-fill Spanish oak ex-Oloroso sherry butts.
Redbreast is currently the largest selling single pot still Irish whiskey in the world. It is produced by Irish Distillers at their Midleton Distillery in County Cork. While Midleton Distillery has been producing single post still whiskey for well over two centuries, the Redbreast brand was resurrected by Irish Distillers back in 1991.
The Redbreast brand has records dating back to 1912 – the then owners were producing a bottled whiskey with a bird emblem as part of the associated John Jameson house of whiskeys. The Redbreast refers to the robin symbol introduced by the chairman of Redbreast’s owning company, Gilbeys. The last bottling by Gilbeys was in 1985 (many years after it stopped being produced), followed shortly with the brand being sold to Irish Distillers.
Regularly awarded as one of the world’s best single pot still whiskeys, Redbreast 21 Year Old is thankfully part of the core range and therefore readily available from spirit and whisky specialist retailers. It is bottled at 46% ABV and you can expect to pay between £230 and £250.
Our Tasting Notes
Deep golden yellow in colour. On the nose this is very rich and luxurious with notes of brandy soaked prunes, dried sugar coasted pineapple chunks, and ripe peach. Sweetness comes from honey and floral honeysuckle aromas matched with hints of orange zest and warming spices – think of cinnamon and clove especially.
On the palate this whiskey is velvety smooth, luscious, and creamlike in texture that feels overwhelming luxurious up front. There are juicy and rich tropical fruits in abundance (imagine apricot, mango and pineapple), both dried and fresh, with sweet bursts of golden syrup. This intense sweet fruitiness is tempered with the spices which now act to dry the palate and create a mouth-watering effect. There are vibrant hints of juicy citrus (orange especially but with a hint of pink grapefruit) underlying to bring freshness to the palate and floral notes that envelop and become increasing flavoursome in your mouth.
The finish goes on and on, bouncing back and forth between rich fruits and drying spices but in a harmonious and very polite manner. The depth and complexity is incredible and leaves a lasting impression. Delicious.
What’s The Verdict?
Redbreast 21 Years Old feels like a remarkably luxurious version of what single pot still whiskeys are capable of being. The naturally sweet and soft characters created by the triple distillation process are enriched here with some very smart cask maturation. This level of flavour is not possible to recreate with young whiskey, only time, and extended age in quality cask, can produce this complexity and depth of character. A whiskey that we highly recommend and keep going back for another small sip of.
