Review #253 - Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition
The most recent addition to the Iberian Series from Redbreast - this is the Tawny Port Cask Edition. Initial maturation takes place in the ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks that are customary for the brand, before finishing occurs in tawny port hogsheads. The brand states that the length of this finish varied between 14 and 25 months, depending on the cask.
Before getting into the tasting, the cost of this bottle was a bit of a concern; while the other members of the Iberian series were generally available for $70 to $100 in our geographical area, this Tawny Port Edition hit the shelves with a whopping $190 price tag.
Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition
Ireland - Single Pot Still
Current Locally Available Price: USD 190 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, finished in ex-Tawny Port hogsheads
Details: Bottled 2023
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 1 month from a sample. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: A slight funk in the spirit, some minerality and nutty character; fruits are dominant, though, with pomegranate, orange, and other dried fruits taking center stage. There are hints of malt, brown sugar, and clove as well.
Palate: A medium thickness mouthfeel; quite chocolatey, with a lot of red fruit as well: pomegranate and cherry, for the most part. There's a little bit of chalky flavor with the malt and chocolate, and vanilla grows stronger later.
Finish: Medium length, with milk chocolate and a lot of syrupy sweetness. Fruits of cherries, prunes, juicy raisin, and tart grape are all mixed in; little hints of baking spice in the aftertaste.
Final Note: Decent, but a little overpowering with the syrupy sweet notes - the port casks are a bit overwhelming with the red fruit and chocolate flavors. Not an entirely balanced whisky in our experience, very cask-driven and sweet, but still an interesting bottle to taste, especially in comparison to the standard Redbreast offerings and the other members of the Iberian series.
Unfortunately, because of that huge price tag in our area, value definitely suffers; to our palates, this has comparable quality to the Lustau edition, but it's 2.5x the price of that sherried version; the PX edition is better than either of the other two, and it's just over half the price of this Tawny Port version.
Our Average Rating: 6.8 / 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: 4.70
