Review #254 - Redbreast PX Edition
Released in 2021, this member of Redbreast's Iberian series focuses on finishing in Pedro Ximenez sherry wine casks, specifically hogsheads. Almost all Redbreast whisky gets some amount of sherry maturation, but it's generally in the form of Oloroso casks; Midleton's addition of PX here could add more of those syrupy dark fruits to the flavor palette.
Redbreast PX Edition
Ireland - Single Pot Still
Current Locally Available Price: USD 120 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, finished in ex-PX sherry hogsheads
Details: Bottled 2021
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 1 month from a sample. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Rich but a little subtle; flavors grow stronger with time. Musty, with rich dark fruits: red and purple berries like raspberry, the occasional hint of orange. There's a nice creamy malt note, as well.
Palate: Medium mouthfeel; nice musty character, decent baking notes of caramelized sugar, some candied pecans; syrupy fruits of strawberry, cherry, red grapes, even dark wine grapes. Hints of malty grain linger in the background.
Finish: Medium length or so, with soft brown spices and some sweet orange fruit. Hints of spirit character linger, and the syrupy red fruits become more subtle; vanilla lingers in the aftertaste.
Final Note: Definitely a heavily cask-influenced whisky, but there's a nice subtleness to the nose and finish, adding a bit of balance; there are still notes of spirit character in the finish, too. A great variety of red fruits, a bit syrupy and sweet at times, but not overpowering. The kick of cooking spice in the finish added another dimension.
Value when this was new was quite good, but this was a one-time release from several years ago, so secondary prices are now starting to rise; because of that, unless you can find a dusty bottle on the shelf at a reasonable retail location, value is decreasing as the cost grows.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 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: 6.08
