Redbreast 12 y.o. Irish Whiskey

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Blackhorse

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Just bought a bottle of the basic 12 y.o. Redbreast. Pot Still method. The most I’ve ever paid for a bottle of anything.

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Visited this distillery several years ago!! Damn fine whiskey!! I pour just a "wee dram" of cool spring water into my whiskey before enjoying it!! FTRPLT
 
I like Jameson so how much better is Redbreast? Is it outrageously expensive? Might mean a trip out of state to get some.

The problem in Iowa is that Iowa has to buy it first and then resell it to retailers with its jacked up price after the Iowa taxes are added on. So if there's not much demand for it in Iowa you can't buy it unless you go to another state. Yeah, I know. It's ridiculous. So the really good and expensive stuff isn't usually available here.
 
How much better is it? Entirely subjective. Will do a trio tasting tonight with my wife…Redbreast, Writer’s Tears & Teeling. All are remarkable in one way or another. But no matter which one “wins” it’s just which one suits ME.
 
I said I would and I did…

Tonight's Special Event: Tasting...a Trio of Exceptional Irish Whiskeys.
  1. Teeling Small Batch ($40)
  2. Writer's Tears Copper Pot ($45)
  3. Redbreast 12 year old - Single Pot Still ($65)
Results…no picky foo foo tasting stuff. But…

Winner
Redbreast 12 yo
Rich and very very smooth. #1

Tied
Writers Tears
Not as smooth. Significant flavor. Smooth #3
Teeling
Sweeter, lovely of flavor. Smooth #2

So the Redbreast was very obviously smoother with a pronounced and lovely flavor…a clear step up. The other two were fantastic, not quite as smooth but very excellent all around. Note: so far as I know…generally Irish Whisky is known for being aged in oak bourbon barrels then lastly aged in sherry barrels. The Teeling departs from this by using Caribbean Rum barrels. The Redbreast 12 has 10 years in oak and 2 years in classic Spanish Sherry barrels. So is it worth the extra? State stores set liquor prices in our state so the orice is the same everywhere. Redbreast is $65 and the other two are $45. For an extra $20…I’d go for the Redbreast. But I’s want the other two around…for company. LOL.

PS: my wife liked the Teeling best…more significant flavor, a bit sweeter in character. Good for her.
 
LOL…not likely. Not for $275. That’s like 4 bottles of Redbreast or Green Spot or 7 bottles of the Teeling. Whatever. It’s a big deal for me to put out the $65 for the Redbreast 12, which is excellent. The youngest whiskey that goes into it is 12 yo…10 years in oak and 2 years in sherry. But some is older, mixed to provide year to year consistently.

And the thing is…I might like it…too much. Then where? Up to a Redbreast 27 yo for $600? There goes the retirement.

Kinda funny…I actually think that kind of price is appropriate for a 21 yo Irish, or Scotch whiskey…maybe half that much for a 15 - 18 yo. But I’d think it was insane for any Bourbon or Canadian or whatever else. Why is that?
 
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