RedBreast 21 Year Old Single Pot Still
This multi award-winning single pot still Irish whiskey from the Midleton distillery is aged for 21 years in a combination of ex-Bourbon and 1st fill Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered. €185.
Omar Fitzell Notes
Extremely rich, so much so it’s almost hard to get past it (that’s not a bad thing!). Lovely spice including cinnamon and star anise. Loads of vanilla, honey and tropical fruits. This is just bliss on your nose. It’s one of those drams that you just don’t want to move on to try because the nose is so good. I know I’ll be nosing the glass long after I’ve it drank.
Palate:
Massively complex, but man is it balanced. A creamy mouthfeel that has a mild vanilla to the fore but it dissipates quickly and is replaced by an almond sherryness. Treacle sweetness takes over which seems to have a slight mintiness with it. Cinnamon, raisins, dried figs and apricots are all there jumping around the tongue dancing with delight.
Finish:
Long finish that has a super note of black currant towards the end for me and a lovely pot still spicy tingle that lingers.
Overall:
What I’m about to say hurts me deeply and yet fills me with joy. I agree with Jim Murray…this is one of the best whiskeys in the world. It has to be the defining Single Pot Still of our time and while its price makes it a little out of most people’s reach, it is hands down the best SPS available. For quality vs value I’m in the Redbreast 15yr old camp but on taste alone, the 21yr old is second only to the “Dreamcask”. It is truly a desert island whiskey.
Al Higgins notes
Nose:
A lovely mix of marzipan, dried fruits, lightly roasted nuts, beeswax and American cream soda.
Palate:
Classic pot still flavours and oiliness. There’s a complexity that you have to search around for but once you find it the layers of flavour just keep on coming.
Finish:
Creamy, waxy and smooth. Can I have some more?
Overall:
Still the biggest and best in the standard Redbreast range.
Omar Fitzell
Omar has been lurking in the background of the Irish Whiskey Industry since 2010 when he started his journey through tasting, enjoying and collecting whiskey. In January 2018 he launched the online blog “That’s Dram Good” which, in those few short months, has become one of the most popular whiskey blogs in Ireland.
You can find him on:
• Twitter – @thatsdramgood
• Facebook – ThatsDramGood
Al Higgins
Over 20 years of experience in drinks retail and a member of the team at the Celtic Whiskey Shop since 2003. Alastair is chief tester and taster at the shop and is also coordinator for the Irish Whiskey Awards. When he is not working he is either training for ultra-marathons, parenting or drumming with his band Le Galaxie.
You can find him on:
• Twitter – @mostlydrinking