Review #131 - Redbreast 15 Year
One of the most popular Irish whiskies for enthusiasts, this is Redbreast 15 Year, a single pot still whisky. From the Midleton distillery, this is a step up from the entry level Redbreast 12 Year in multiple ways: it gets an additional three years of maturation, and it's bottled at a strength of 46% ABV, up from 40% on the 12 Year. That does come at a price, though - while this can be found under $100 in some places, it costs more like $115 in our area.
Redbreast 15 Year
Ireland - Single Pot Still
Current Locally Available Price: USD 115 (2023)
Age Statement: 15 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 2 months; bottles at 50% and 100% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Lots of caramel, rich and a decent amount of oak influence. There's a decent sweet side with red fruit and wine, maybe a bit of perfume, but also a spicier side with that oak and some dry red wine. Pleasant, slightly floral at times.
Palate: Warm and cozy, with plenty of oils; a medium-thick mouthfeel. Fruits are red but also nectarine stone fruit, introducing a slightly dry side. Spiced cider and mulled wine notes add to the cozy feeling, and there's a hint of cream as well; the oak is still somewhat strong, and it's balanced.
Finish: Medium length, with pleasant warmth a some oils hanging around the mouth. That oak influence is still here, but much more mild on the finish - yellow and orange citrus notes come in, along with nutmeg and pepper spice. Becomes a bit more delicate, but a nice finish.
Final Note: This is good - starting to get some complexity, definitely more than the 12 Year offering, but it's still a bit subtle. Pleasant to sip on, but didn't necessarily captivate us; a little pricy as well, although not a terrible value.
Our Average Rating: 7.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.88
