Review #218 - Redbreast Lustau
Bodegas Lustau is a sherry wine producer in Jerez. They collaborated with Midleton Distillery to create this sherry-finished Redbreast whisky - there was an original maturation in ex-bourbon casks before that.
There's not a lot of information on the bottle other than the finishing casks, but we do get a nice strength of 46% ABV. This is also a bit cheaper than the other members of the Iberian series, such as the Tawny Port and the PX editions.
Redbreast Lustau
Ireland - Single Pot Still
Current Locally Available Price: USD 78 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Finished in Bodegas Lustau Oloroso sherry-seasoned butts
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 years; bottles at 100%, 50% (blind tasting), and 40% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Dry fruits - orange and bitter prune, and some dry oak to go with it. Soft sweetness comes from brown sugar, but this generally leans dry; there are hints of nutty character and a chemical note like highlighter markers; a little bit simple.
Palate: The medium mouthfeel comes with stronger sherry notes of red and orange fruit, nutty spice, clove, and black pepper; it's still leaning dry rather than sweet. Slightly more sour wood and brown sugar arrive later.
Finish: Medium length, with hints of oil and syrupy raisin. Soft oak astringency, pomegranate, mulled wine, and dry prunes make up the remaining flavors.
Final Note: We like that this isn't too sweet, which is an occasional issue with whiskies that use strong sherry maturation; the nutty character coming from the Oloroso casks was subtle, but a nice treat. A bit simple and soft overall, but a nice casual sipper; value is about average.
Our Average Rating: 6.3 / 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: 6.09
