Redbreast® Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, makers of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, has introduced Redbreast 27 Year Old, the oldest permanent expression in the beloved Redbreast series. An iconic addition to the collection, Redbreast 27 Year Old includes a portion of whiskey that was matured in ruby port barrels from Portugal’s Douro Valley to bring a new complexity and depth to the Redbreast collection.
Redbreast 27 Year Old will join Redbreast 12, 15, 21 Year Old and Lustau, taking its position at the head of the family with its distinguished age statement. Spending 27 years maturing under the watchful eyes of the team at Midleton distillery, it was Master Blender Billy Leighton and Blender Dave McCabe who set their sights on building further on the celebrated foundation of bourbon and sherry casks so synonymous with Redbreast with the addition of a ruby port cask.
For over 30 years, the team at Midleton has travelled to the Douro Valley in Portugal, where port has been produced for two thousand years, to discover the finest caves in the region in a quest to provide drinkers with a truly unique taste experience. After sourcing ruby port casks, the masters filled them with pot still distillate before leaving them to mature, then combined them with whiskey aged in bourbon and sherry barrels. The ruby port barrels impart fleshy fruit characteristics with notes of toasted oak which complements the rich and robust style of the distillate.
“It gives us great pleasure to reveal the latest member of the Redbreast Irish Whiskey family,” says Master Blender Billy Leighton. “In creating this whiskey, Dave and I drew on our experience of working with sherry and other wine casks over the years as we have evolved the range. This time, we wanted to push the boundaries and yet create an expression that would seamlessly take its place at the head of the family. Nearly three decades in the making, we are incredibly proud to present Redbreast 27 Year Old – a cask strength Redbreast expression that is a joy to behold in each and every sip.”
Blender Dave McCabe adds: “Bottled at 54.6% cask strength, the ruby port barrels contribute notes of mango, pineapple and berry to the robust flavor of Redbreast 27 Year Old, clearly distinguishing it from the previous expressions in the collection, treading a beautiful balance of tradition and innovation.”
“Redbreast 27 Year Old showcases why and how, tradition and innovation continue to be of significance to whiskey aficionados and new whiskey drinkers alike,” says Sona Bajaria, Vice President of Marketing, High End Irish Whiskeys at Pernod Ricard USA. “We know that when consumers land on Redbreast, they fall in love and want to pass it along to friends, family, and those who share a love for premium whiskies. Redbreast is the standard bearer of premium Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and the new 27 Year old expression celebrates our heritage with an experience worth the journey of nearly three decades.”
Produced in limited quantities on an ongoing basis, Redbreast 27 Year Old is available in 11 global markets from March 2020 at SRP of $500 USD. Consumers in the USA can find Redbreast 27 Year Old in 23 markets including: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas Washington D.C and Washington state.
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Redbreast 27 Year Old tasting notes by Master Blender Billy Leighton and Blender Dave McCabe:
Nose: A mix of exotic fruits and red berries, complemented by fresh herbs and wood spices. Vanilla sweetness and treacle toffee combine with the nuttiness of toasted oak.
Taste: Incredibly rich in texture with a luxurious combination of ripe stone fruits and summer berries, balanced by the prickle of a hint of chilli oil. Cherry menthol, vanilla and cinnamon sweet spices complement red pepper, nutmeg and toasted oak.
Finish: A satisfyingly long balance of ripe fruit and wood spices, worthy of a journey of nearly three decades.
