“A Robin Redbreast in a cage places all Heaven in a rage.”
Every yr I take nice pleasure in excited about which whisk(e)y I’ll choose for Christmas duties. Often, it’s a stylistic determination. Some whiskies – Bunnahabhain springs to thoughts – appear to have been created particularly for the season.
Sometimes, the selection is extra summary and, frankly, crowbarred into some tenuous type of Christmas wrapping. Final yr, Lidl’s peaty Ben Bracken 19 launch gained me over. The concept of an “incognito” whisky evoked notes of Kate Bush and the wintery – some would possibly say Christmassy – high quality of her distinctly surreal, dramatic soprano and folksy storytelling appeared to suit the festive temper. Think about having had the misfortune of listening to that nonsense as you have been poured a whisky you’d accepted primarily out of politeness, as my visitors (learn spouse) did final yr.
This yr I’ve pushed Kate to 1 facet and performed Christmas with a agency, straight bat. I consulted the “particular cabinet” and chosen a bottle fully on the energy of its identify. In a transfer positive to have warmed the guts of William Blake – and, presumably, God – I’ve de-caged a Redbreast, that almost all Christmas of birds.
It’s not instantly clear why robins are synonymous with Christmas nevertheless it seems – as with most traditions within the UK – it’s right down to the Victorians. It was throughout Victorian occasions that the conference of sending Christmas playing cards began and, on the time, Royal Mail postmen wore vibrant crimson uniforms, incomes them the nickname of “robins.” There’s additionally a narrative a few chook getting burnt on the breast on the delivery of Jesus, however I believe it’s the common-or-garden postie that’s most accountable for the robin-adorned Christmas playing cards, mugs and biscuit tins that make an look each December.
Coincidentally, it seems that as we speak (twenty first December) can be Nationwide Robin Day within the UK, which I’ve taken as a superb omen.
Clearly, Redbreast whiskey is known as after the robin (the chook, not Victorian postmen). Nevertheless – in information that can lower deep for Irish readers – the model’s roots are firmly planted in Victorian England. Based in London in 1857, W&A Gibley was an unbiased wine and spirits service provider that later unfold its wings to Dublin and commenced shopping for distillate from Jameson’s Bow Road Distillery to mature in spent sherry casks. Bottles of Gibley’s Citadel “JJ Liqueur” – because it was then known as – have been extremely wanted, significantly amongst the clergy… or so legend has it.
It wasn’t till 1912 that the primary official bottle of “Redbreast” was launched. Gibley’s Chairman on the time – a eager twitcher – was so keen on the little songbird that he determined to call a whiskey after it.
It was within the Nineteen Eighties that Irish Distillers – producers of Jameson – bought the model, which is now the biggest single pot nonetheless Irish whiskey on this planet. Pot nonetheless whiskey (for these like me who’re a bit of hazy on the main points) – is created from a combined mash of malted and unmalted barley and distilled in – you guessed it – a pot nonetheless. If it comes from a single distillery, it’s a single pot nonetheless whiskey.
As is usually identified, it’s the usage of unmalted barley within the mash that provides Irish pot nonetheless whiskey its distinct daring and sophisticated fashion. Nevertheless, provided that unmalted barley can’t produce alcohol – attributable to science – it’s a marvel that it was ever used in any respect. Character and flavour are actually a part of the origins story, however tax – or the avoidance thereof – was most likely the primary driver. Utilizing unmalted barley within the mash meant that canny Irish distillers lowered the obligation levied on malt.
So there we now have it. The story of Redbreast whiskey is one in every of Anglo-Irish ingenuity, Victorian mercantilism, chook fancying, and tax avoidance… which all sounds very Dickensian and really Christmassy.
Redbreast 12 Cask Power Batch B1-22 – Overview
Matured in a mixture of ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks and bottled at a pure cask energy of 58.1% ABV. £79.95 from Grasp of Malt.
Color: Copper.
On the nostril: Fruity and winey. The fruit begins contemporary and citrussy – orange peel – then develops into raisins, figs and mince pies. The sherry notes work via, together with candied sweetness, and there’s a touch of clove spice.
Within the mouth: Fiery to start out, however actually calms down after a short while within the glass. It’s extremely creamy and textured. The citrus fruits are extra outstanding and the spiciness is dialed up a notch, however balances effectively with the vanilla and toasted fruitcake. It’s extremely advanced and evolves via the palate.
Conclusions:
An unimaginable whiskey. Albeit based mostly on a small pattern measurement, that is simply the very best Irish Whiskey I’ve ever had the pleasure of ingesting. A kind of whiskies which you can’t imagine you waited this lengthy to attempt. Not one to power on well mannered visitors, I shall be savouring this little fantastic thing about a songbird over the festive interval with pleasure… after which re-stocking it.
Rating: 9/10
My whisk(e)y of the yr? Definitely shut.
Completely happy Nationwide Robin Day, Merry Christmas and Completely happy Holidays!
