Review #35 Red Breast 12yr: Irish

Score: 8.6 / 10

Distillery: Midleton

Type: Single Pot Still

One of the best whiskey brands and proclaimed the largest Single Pot Still selling whiskey in the world (though likely being a pretty small category) is Red Breast 12. I tried this a long time ago. It was maybe my 10th whiskey that I had ever tried. I thought it was phenomenal! Since then I have grown up past old Red Breast, but that image will stay with me forever. It's still on my shelf and I'll likely snag another or a 15yr / Cask Strength the replace it as I value having it around.

Very smooth and fruity. I think this is an amazing novice whiskey. Why? Ummm, because I was a novice and I completely loved this stuff! I think that you'll have the same response and respect for it that I developed on that day. If you haven't dipped your toes in Irish Whiskey yet, this is were I would start. And.... if you want to jump-start that process and try a REALLY amazing Irish Whiskey, you can start with the Red Breast 12 Cask Strength. This won best in class in 2019 in episode 5 of our whiskey podcast Po It Up. You can link to that content here.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: Pleasant and fruity. Honey, raspberry, melon, lemon pound cake, ginger

Palate: sugar water, dried fruits, lemon rind, cashew nut, orange, spices, ethanol

Finish: Medium creamy finish. Orange mint, custard, a surprising tannic leather

Score: 8.6

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Common. All Irish sections should have this whiskey!

Jameson Fans rejoice. Midleton distillery also makes Red Breast 12...... and it's better! I love me some Jameson, but after stepping it up to this, I'm not sure I would ever go back.