Redbreast Dream Cask 20yo PX
A limited release of 924 50cl bottles, this is composed of four different single pot still whiskeys aging from 20 to 33 years from the Midleton distillery which were married in a single Pedro Ximénez (PX) cask. Available to members of the Redbreast Birdhouse online club and priced at €380. Bottled at 52.2% ABV. Available now on the secondary market only as this sold out in 11 minutes!
Omar Fitzell Notes
Liquorice in abundance. Heavy thick treacle with a spicy nuttiness. Almonds maybe. Beautifully dark colour also.
Palate:
Seriously thick and oily. Sweet honeycomb ice cream. Bucket loads of berries, apricots and vanilla. Dark high percentage chocolate also. Addition of water brings out some leather and hazelnuts.
Finish:
Long and lingering. Lovely clove spice. The Redbreast berry finish is there but with a nuttiness and sweetness from both sherry casks.
Overall:
Different. And when I’ve said that to people, they expect it is a let-down. It’s not a let-down. Not by any shade of the imagination. It is a Redbreast like no other and it’s simply yum. It gives your palate something new while still giving you a Redbreast experience that we all know and love. Is it as good as the 32 year old? No, of course it’s not. Is it a damn good dram? Yes. Is it worth €380? Hell yes, it is. It’s a unique Redbreast that is priced on par with the usual Redbreast Single Casks. It is also priced within the realm of people actually buying one to open (I know, shock horror!).
Al Higgins notes
Nose:
Roasted hazelnuts, walnuts, Nutella, chocolate, dates, raisins, prunes and new leather. Lots of wood notes, yes this promises much but already I suspect this doesn’t quite have the complexity of the first release.
Palate:
Rich, spicy, sweet, waxy and fruity. Oh wow! this is really good. I am struggling to put my finger on what exactly is the dominant flavour here. Prunes and dark rum, yes, but maybe a touch of Spanish brandy that has been matured in top quality oloroso sherry butts. No, I have it now, it’s Black Forest Gateau.
Finish:
Not as long as you would hope but it is the initial blast of dark fruits that lifts this into a level well above most other whiskeys.
Overall:
The nose and palate are two quite different entities here, but the taste is just amazing. It may be simpler and less complex than the first release, but it is a real charmer. The flavours really are quite unique. It tastes like an old Irish whiskey from the 1960s or 1970s and has some wonderful sweet, chocolate and prune flavours.
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