Best Redbreast Whiskey

Last Updated on: 22nd April 2024, 04:05 pm

With the assistance of Irish Whiskey expert Neil Coleman and customer feedback, I have reviewed and ranked every Redbreast release and determined which is the best.

Written by: J Highland

Choosing the Best Redbreast

• Rich & Creamy: Redbreast 12 – The classic choice, offering a luxurious mouthfeel and a complex flavor profile.
• For the Sherry Lover: Redbreast Lustau – This expression adds dried fruit, spice, and sweetness thanks to the Oloroso sherry cask finish.
• Sweet & Spicy: Redbreast PX – The Pedro Ximenez sherry cask adds raisin, date, and fig notes, creating a sweet and spicy dram.
• Richer & Bolder: Redbreast 15 – This option offers a more intense experience compared to the 12-year-old, with a higher proof and bolder flavors.
• The Ultimate Luxury: Redbreast 21 – Considered by some as the pinnacle of Irish whiskey, it delivers an unmatched smooth and creamy experience with complex flavors.

Bonus Option:

• Redbreast 12 (for Budget-Minded): While not the absolute best for every category, Redbreast 12 remains a fantastic introduction to the brand at a more affordable price point.

This selection highlights a Redbreast for each taste preference. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual palate.

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Rich & Creamy: Redbreast 12 Redefines Irish Whiskey

• Nose: Vanilla, caramel, ginger, orange peel
• Palate: Ripe fruit, citrus, sherry, baking spice, oak
• Finish: Ripe fruit, citrus, sherry, baking spice, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat or add water

Redbreast 12 challenges Scotch with its pot still character and sherry cask influence.

The nose offers rich vanilla, caramel, ginger, and a touch of orange. The palate is luxuriously creamy with ripe fruit, citrus, sherry, and oak. The finish lingers with baking spice and dried fruit.

Redbreast 12 goes beyond “smooth” with a complex and satisfying flavor profile, perfect for sipping neat, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength: Unfiltered Powerhouse

• Nose: Bread, marzipan, vanilla
• Palate: Dried fruit, baking spice, caramel, vanilla
• Finish: Long, oak, baking spice
• Alcohol content: 112 proof (55.8% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength cranks up the original with no dilution, offering a higher ABV and unfiltered richness.

The nose explodes with brioche bread, marzipan, and vanilla. The palate is incredibly creamy, with a warming initial sip that smooths out quickly. Bold flavors of dried fruit, baking spices, caramel, and vanilla unfold, leading to a long, warming finish of oak and spice.

While strong, the smoothness shines through. Enjoy neat or with a touch of water to tame the heat – either way, this is a powerful and flavorful dram for whiskey enthusiasts.

Sherry Twist: Redbreast Lustau

• Nose: Dried figs, clove, black pepper
• Palate: Spice, nutty, apple
• Finish: Long, brown sugar, molasses, oak
• Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat, add water

Redbreast Lustau shakes things up for the 12-year-old with a one-year Oloroso sherry cask finish. This influence is evident on the nose, introducing nutty aromas and dried fruit alongside the classic oak. Despite a higher proof (92 vs. 80) and no chill filtration, Lustau maintains smoothness.

The taste offers a delightful surprise. It’s bolder than the 12-year-old, with dried fig, clove, and black pepper on the nose. The familiar Redbreast creaminess follows, with an initial spicy kick that transitions to nutty and sweet flavors like almonds, walnuts, caramelized apples, and figs. The finish is a crowd-pleaser, combining molasses, brown sugar, and spiced rum.

Overall, Lustau is a unique and flavorful expression that stands out from the traditional Redbreast 12.

Sweet & Spicy Delight: Redbreast PX

• Nose: Toasted nuts, dried fruit, baking spice
• Palate: Ripe fruit, chocolate, baking spice
• Finish: Long, ripe fruit, oak
• Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Redbreast PX takes their pot still whiskey on a Spanish adventure. After maturing in bourbon and oloroso casks, it gets a special finish in Pedro Ximenez (PX) hogsheads. PX is a sweet dessert wine known for its raisin, date, and fig notes with a touch of spice.

The influence shines through on the nose with toasted nuts and dried fruit. The palate is smooth and buttery, offering ripe fruit, chocolate, spice, oak, and almond. The finish is long and fruity with a touch of oak. Enjoy neat – no water needed! This whiskey boasts even more flavor than Redbreast 12, with PX casks adding chocolate, spice, and toasted nuts for a truly delicious dram.

Richer & Bolder: Redbreast 15 Unveiled

• Nose: Nuts, dried fruit, apricot, date
• Palate: Dried fruit, roasted nuts, orange, baking spice
• Finish: Long, baking spice, dried fruit, oak
• Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Redbreast 15 elevates the 12-year-old with a higher proof (92 vs. 80) and no chill filtration for a richer experience.

The nose is light and inviting with roasted nuts, dried fruit, apricot, and dates. The palate is luxuriously smooth and velvety, showcasing dried fruit, roasted nuts, orange peel, and baking spice. The finish lingers with warmth, baking spice, dried fruit, and a touch of oak.

While water brings out oak and caramel, Redbreast 15 is best enjoyed neat, offering a richer and bolder expression of the Redbreast character.

Ultimate Redbreast: The 21 Year Old Masterpiece

• Nose: Ripe fruit, roasted nuts, dried fruit
• Palate: Vanilla, oak, nutty, baking spice
• Finish: Long, oak, baking spice
• Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Redbreast 21 pushes the boundaries of Irish whiskey. Aged in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, and bottled without chill filtration, it delivers an unmatched experience.

The vibrant nose offers tropical fruits, dried fruit, and roasted nuts. The palate is luxuriously smooth and creamy, with vanilla, oak, sherry nuttiness, and baking spice. The long finish lingers with oak and spice.

This is a contender for the finest whiskey ever tasted. While exceeding most Scotches in price and age, the Redbreast 21 is a special occasion dram to share with loved ones or savor solo.

Redbreast 27: A Worthy Contender, Not a Champion

• Nose: Baking spice, prunes, cherries, orange
• Palate: Oak, dates, prunes, dried fruit, chocolate
• Finish: Long, oak, dried fruit
• Alcohol content: 107 proof (53.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Redbreast’s oldest expression, the 27 Year Old, matures in a unique combination of bourbon, sherry, and ruby port casks. Bottled at cask strength and unchill-filtered, each batch offers a slightly different experience.

The nose is a symphony of baking spice, prunes, cherries, and a hint of orange. The palate is thick and warming, showcasing dates, prunes, dried fruit, and rich chocolate. The finish lingers with oak, spice, and dried fruit.

While undeniably well-crafted, the Redbreast 27 doesn’t quite reach the heights of the 21 Year Old. Considering the price tag, it may not be the ultimate choice, but it remains a worthy contender for Redbreast enthusiasts.

Buying Guide

Prices are approximate and stated in USD.

Whiskey	Price	ABV
Redbreast 12	$70	40%
Redbreast 12 Cask Strength	$90	56%
Redbreast Lustau	$76	46%
Redbreast PX	$120	46%
Redbreast 15	$115	46%
Redbreast 21	$333	46%
Redbreast 27	$600	55%