I picked up my bottle for $60 CAD at the LCBO. Chewy – a good mouthfeel initially, but too ethanol hot on the way out. Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, the distinctive Redbreast sherry style is a joy to behold in each and every bottle. 92 • I’ve always thought of “a Powers” as the order of someone who knows exactly what they want to drink—they’re not buying into any marketing hype. Reasonably fruity, but definitely more towards the unripened fruit end. Compared to either of those whiskeys, Redbreast 12 year is smoother but also more complex. We also picked up a bottle of Jameson Black Barrel. Nose: Honey and a bit of vanilla lead off, followed by typical pear and apple notes, along with plum and green banana, with a hint of raisins. (It’s not so easy to find though—the popularity of Irish whiskey means a general shortage could soon be setting in. If you don’t like Redbreast, you don’t like whiskey. The inclusion of unmalted barley introduces additional characteristics into the whisky. Try it in a Manhattan or on the rocks. Both are triple-distilled in copper pot stills by Midleton from a recipe of both malted and unmalted barley and both aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, although Redbreast uses a far higher percentage of sherry. Men's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Not because of the taste, which is really light and not very complex, but because of the number of times the brand has been bought and sold. There are not one but two other Powers-branded pot still whiskies available, the Powers Signature Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (46-percent ABV; $47) and the new Powers … Now, I’m not usually a massive fan of Irish whiskey but had the chance to try two of the Redbreast range recently, including the 21. It is a 'Single Pot Still' Irish whiskey, meaning that it is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley. Using the signature Powers pot still distillate, it has been matured mainly in American bourbon barrels with the subtle inclusion of whiskey matured in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. Jameson is, of course, distilled there, along with the majority of name-brand Irish whiskeys – Paddy, Powers, Redbreast, Green Spot, Yellow Spot, and more. Three-word review: Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. This Sherry-finished Irish whiskey has a vanilla and honey fragrance, with hints of white flowers and fresh basil. Particularly the 21 has a reputation as one of the best Irish Whiskies that money can buy. I’ve covered a few Irish single pot still whiskies before, but I realize that I haven’t explained the origin of this traditional Irish style. Powers John’s Lane Release Aged 12 Years – 91 points. A bit of astringency shows up over time, along with some oakiness. Bushmills 10-year ($55) single malt is just as tasty but richer, having spent 10 years in American bourbon casks. ... Red Breast. This whiskey ages in barrels from an Italian winery and emerges drunk on cherries, berries, and oak—all that makes wine great, in whiskey form. Unfortunately, a fair amount of organic solvent off notes, contributing to the youngish sensation. Redbreast is one of the many whiskeys produced at New Midleton Distillery. This resource is based on a scientific meta-analysis of expert whisky reviews. A smaller proportion of first fill bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks were also used to help add additional character. Three-word review: Luscious—no, decadent. There are sweet and spicy ones, smoky ones and light ones, thin ones and “big” one—which is great news because St. Patrick’s Day drinking is as refined an experience as you want it to be. Powers Signature Release bears the hallmark spicy flavours that are typical of the Powers whiskeys, with black pepper, honey, vanilla and berries in abundance. Have you ever thought about what I eat and if you could do the same. Trivia for your new friends at the St. Patrick’s day bar: Bushmills' water source (which is a big deal to whiskey nerds) is the picturesque lake right next to the main distillery building. Although I compared Signature Release to Redbreast 12, this Powers John's Lane actually reminds me more of Midleton Very Rare - but more spicy/earthy in this case. And thus was born the pure pot still style, out of economic necessity. Relatively low scores were given by Ralfy and Serge of Whisky Fun. Redbreast 15 & 21 Reviews Hi everyone, Redbreast is known to be THE single pot still whiskey to try. Is it a plant?Do you guys even know?Anyway, here’s to a tastier—and more Irish!—St. The comparison to Redbreast 12yo is obvious – they are fairly similar in profile. Trivia for your new friends at the St. Patrick’s day bar: D.E.W.? The older Yellow Spot 12 Year ($105) is a lot sweeter and richer, having been aged in three different casks. The two-booze combo allows vanilla and nutmeg from Demerara rum casks to augment Tully’s buttery-citrusy notes. The Powers Signature is a bit sweeter in its initial approach too. The goal of this website is to help you choose your next whisky, using a detailed flavour and quality assessment of an extensive range of whiskies. Dill and pepper. Patrick’s Day. I'm Robin Redbreast, proud to sit on the label of Ireland's most beloved Single Pot Still Whiskey. Home to several other single pot still Irish whiskeys, Midleton Distillery also produces Jameson and Tullamore Dew. Here is what I find in the glass: Colour: I don’t know if colourant is added, but my sample bottle is very similar in colour to my Redbreast 12 yo. Jameson Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey. Powers Signature Release is bottled at 46% ABV, which is higher than typical for whiskies in this price point, and is non chill filtered. It’s basically taking something that is already phenomenal and turning it up 11.The only way it could possibly get better is if it was the ungodly amazing RB21 being delivered at CS, but let’s not greedy. Among some Irish whisky drinkers that I know, the entry-level Powers Gold is generally considered to be of higher quality than most other common blends (i.e., Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, etc.). It’s still light, but seriously fruity. Note there are relatively few reviews of this whisky so far. People really into whiskey don’t drink a lot of Jameson’s standard blend ($36), the whiskey you get when you order “a Jameson,” which is sweet and fun, but there’s just not much complexity there. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. Given this mix, it is easy to see how you might speculate that Powers Signature Release is essentially a younger form of Redbreast 12. Like Jameson, it is blended whiskey, some combination of pure pot-still whiskey with column-still grain whiskey (allegedly 70% pure pot still to 30% grain). What they’re getting is something straightforward but delicious, worthy of sipping neat but probably most often served on the rocks with a beer back. Scottish. 6 of 12. But from now on this will be my special occasion tipple, and I've tried nearly all Irish Whiskey's out there. Powers Gold Label is my go too Whiskey, and Red Breast 12 year old for best. Trivia for your new friends at the St. Patrick’s day bar: Redbreast first started out in the early 20th century as extra-aged Jameson’s. Mild spice persists until the end, including that anise and pepper. Powers Signature Release 12 ($47), is a great whiskey, too—rich from being aged in bourbon and sherry casks—but the original should suit your needs fine. Powers Signature Release – 91 points. Redbreast Aged 15 Years bottle 12 – 96 points. But before we embark on this journey through the Emerald Isle to find the best Irish whiskey that will hopefully not again involve the term “Emerald Isle,” we leave you with this toast, which was given in a bar in Chicago once.... May the road rise up to meet you And the Shamrock grow so… green?Hey, what’s a shamrock? Baking spices come through, cinnamon and cloves in particular. It’s just “Jameson.” A light, sweet, smooth, approachable introduction to the category. It stands for Daniel Edmund Williams. Matt In 1887, after overseeing renovations to the Tullamore distillery, Williams slapped his monogram on the whiskey and came up with the slogan “Give every man his D.E.W.” Come on, Danny Boy! There is no age statement, but it is believed that the barrels used for this release are mainly in the 7-9 year old range. A lot of these premium bottles are “single pot still” versions of the whiskies you’ve heard of: Jameson, Powers, and more. With the explosion of new Irish whiskey brands, you have more options than ever—at the liquor store and your favorite American Irish bar and Father O’McPaddy’s Extremely Authentic Irish Pub (all seven locations in the quad-state area!). As explained on my source of whisky flavour page, there are a lot of advantages to using malted barley. SCORE: 88 The addition of unmalted barley in the mix was essentially a tax dodge – to help finance the empire (especially during the Napoleonic wars), England applied a heavy tax on malted barley used in Scottish and Irish whisky production. It’s worth pointing out that Powers John’s Lane and Redbreast are almost the same whiskey. Powers John’s Lane is a great buy and a worthy step up from Signature Release in my view. Our Powers Single Pot Still range aims to continue the heritage of this iconic brand. Pear, plum and apple notes dominate for fruit, but slightly candied. Your email address will not be published. I happened to spot a dark bottle with a tan label way in the back. Until then, whiskey was delivered in casks to pubs. It was eventually out-competed by low cost blended whiskies (where pot still malt whisky was combined with much cheaper grain whisky produced in continuous column stills). They had a decent whiskey selection, considering most bars in the area end their variety at Jack and Jameson. Sip slowly and savor. It retails slightly cheaper than Jameson in the US, at $16 a bottle. I'm not all that in love with Irish whiskey in general, but I try to keep a bottle or two on hand for guests. All the better if I enjoy it (Redbreast 12). Water brings up the pear and banana notes hugely, and adds some peach and apricot. FAQ’s About Irish Whiskey Redbreast 12 Year Old. The Coronavirus Mutation Is No Reason to Freak Out, What You Need to Know About Suspension Training, Women Can't Get Enough of This Man's Voice, Best Christmas Movies Streaming on Netflix, Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition Irish Whiskey, Redbreast Lustau Edition Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Marsala Cask Single Malt Irish Whiskey, The Tyrconnell 16-year-old Oloroso & Moscatel Cask Finish Single Malt Irish Whiskey, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Powers Signature Release 12 ($47), is a great whiskey, too—rich from being aged in bourbon and sherry casks—but the original should suit your needs fine. Tullamore’s 14-Year Single Malt ($80) is a terrific upgrade from the original. 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