Redbreast

Redbreast is the gold standard for single pot still Irish whiskey — the uniquely Irish style distilled from a mix of malted and unmalted barley in copper pot stills at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks. The range spans 12 Year, 12 Year Cask Strength, 15 Year, 21 Year, 27 Year, and the Lustau Edition Oloroso Sherry finish.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Redbreast single pot still different from Irish single malt?

Single malt Irish whiskey — like Teeling Single Malt or Knappogue Castle — is distilled from 100% malted barley, the same grain specification as Scotch single malt. Single pot still is uniquely Irish: it uses a mashbill that combines malted barley and a significant proportion of unmalted (raw) barley, both distilled together in copper pot stills. Unmalted barley was historically used in Ireland to avoid a British malt tax, and it contributes something distinct to the distillate — a characteristic spiciness, a heavier oiliness, and a creamy texture that malted-barley-only distillation cannot produce. This combination gives Redbreast its signature mouthfeel: rich, coating, and more textured than most single malts. The style had nearly disappeared by the late 20th century but has been revived as the premium tier of Irish whiskey production, with Redbreast as the most critically acclaimed expression of it.

What does the Oloroso Sherry cask maturation add to Redbreast and how does it differ between expressions?

All Redbreast expressions are matured in a combination of ex-bourbon American oak casks and Oloroso Sherry butts. Ex-bourbon contributes vanilla, caramel, and light toasted grain character. Oloroso Sherry casks — large Spanish oak butts that previously held dry Oloroso Sherry — contribute dried fruit (raisin, fig, dark cherry), chocolate, and a characteristic nuttiness from the oxidative aging environment of the Sherry itself. The balance between bourbon and Sherry cask influence shifts across the age range: the 12 Year shows the Sherry influence as a complement to fresher fruit and spice; the 15 Year has more Sherry integration as additional aging softens the bourbon cask’s vanilla dominance; the 21 Year is the most Sherry-forward, with the dried fruit and dark chocolate character most prominent; the 27 Year at barrel proof is the most intensely complex expression of the full maturation program.