[ad_1]
Irish Distillers launched Redbreast Dream Cask 38 yr previous Zenith Version earlier this yr, the seventh and last version in its collection of remarkable and uncommon cask choices and completed single pot nonetheless whiskeys. The collection originated after a Fb Stay tasting hosted by grasp distiller Billy Leighton in 2017 to coincide with World Whisky Day, throughout which Leighton showcased a 31 yr previous single pot nonetheless whiskey distilled at Midleton Distillery. The next yr, the Dream Cask collection started in earnest with the debut of that whiskey, bottled at 32 years previous. Every annual launch got here in 500 ml bottles and was offered by poll by way of The Birdhouse, Redbreast’s on-line members’ membership. The releases offered out shortly yearly. Leighton made the cask choices, working with blender Dave McCabe because the collection progressed. By the point of the ultimate launch in 2024, McCabe had been named the brand new grasp blender and Billy Leighton had retired, changing into grasp blender emeritus.
U.S.-based Redbreast followers couldn’t take part within the preliminary lotteries resulting from supply restrictions. Now, with public sale homes in Europe providing supply to many states and bottles filtering into U.S. public sale homes as properly, proudly owning an entire Redbreast Dream Cask assortment has grow to be a sensible prospect for Irish whiskey collectors on this facet of the pond. With the collection at an finish, we’ve drawn collectively our rankings and evaluations for all seven editions, along with the small print of every and the unique retail costs.
Redbreast Dream Cask Sequence: Reviewed
91 Redbreast Dream Cask 32 yr previous, 46.5%, €500
Launched in 2018, this debut bottling was a single pot nonetheless whiskey distilled in 1985 that was initially matured in a refill bourbon barrel for 26 years, then completed for an extra 6 years in a first-fill oloroso sherry butt. This one could be present in two packaging variants, because the preliminary packing containers couldn’t correctly include the branded glasses within the present set, which brought about lots of them to be damaged within the mail. Irish Distillers issued substitute packs and an apology set, which additionally turned collectible.
Bursting with hawthorn, crimson currant, cherry, pomegranate, baked sugar sweetness, roasted spices, cardamom, darkish honey, and plum pudding aromas. This pot nonetheless whiskey from 1985 is mouth-drawing with flavors of fruit flesh and skins, stewed fruits, baked orange, apple, and pomegranate, with a really advantageous shimmer of spices that sparkles on the tongue. Including to its canon of single cask Redbreast releases, that is completely smashing. (816 bottles)
95 Redbreast Dream Cask 20 yr previous Pedro Ximénez Version, 52.5%, €380
Launched in 2019, this mixed 4 whiskeys distilled in 1985, 1995, 1997, and 1998 matured in bourbon barrels, an oloroso sherry butt, and a Pedro Ximénez sherry butt, which have been vatted collectively and completed in a Pedro Ximénez sherry cask.
This vatting of 4 mature pot nonetheless whiskeys completed in a PX butt is kind of a departure for Redbreast. The nostril has unimaginable depth, with darkish, sticky, concentrated black cherry, candied peel, coriander, vanilla, allspice, clove, and entire almond. This heavy, unctuous, mouth-coating whiskey resonates with wealthy fruits, clove, licorice, and juicy blackberry, ending with pot nonetheless spice and bitter notes. (924 bottles)
93 Redbreast Dream Cask 28 yr previous Ruby Port Cask Version, 57.5%, €490
Launched in 2020, this started with 4 casks of whiskey distilled between 1989 and 1991 and matured for no less than 28 years in bourbon barrels, an oloroso sherry butt, and a ruby port-seasoned cask. These have been vatted and married in a ruby port pipe.
Cranberry, crimson apple, candied peel, glacé cherry, Crimson Vines, and black pepper, with heather honey, florals, and festive spices on the nostril. A fruity concoction of cherry lip balm, cranberry sauce, caramel, peppercorn, and a touch of apple, the fruit sails by way of because the spice and sugar fade. Water softens the impression, however widens the flavour spectrum to embrace plum, orange, walnut, and cranberry. (912 bottles)
92 Redbreast Dream Cask 29 yr previous Oloroso Sherry Version, 51.5%, €520
Launched in 2021, 4 whiskeys aged for no less than 29 years in bourbon, sherry, and ruby port casks have been married collectively and completed for 15 months in an oloroso sherry butt.
A wave of pot nonetheless spice and excessive alcohol carries aromas of blueberry muffin, Victoria plum, floor ginger, nutmeg, and plush sherry. In time, better complexity develops scents of juicy raspberry, black olive, and rose and violet lotions. Dense sherrywood flavors with chocolate-covered Brazil nuts and nippy, peppery spices encircle the tip of the tongue, then it finishes with blueberry gum and flashes of candied peel. (924 bottles)
95 Redbreast Dream Cask 30 yr previous Double Cask Version, 56.9%, €550
Launched in 2022, the fifth version was a wedding of two casks, together with a first-fill oloroso sherry butt crammed in 1990 picked by then grasp blender Billy Leighton and a first-fill bourbon barrel crammed in 1991 picked by then blender Dave McCabe.
There may be an urgency to the pot nonetheless spices on the nostril, their insistence backed by a jumble of darkish fruits, new leather-based, maple syrup, dates, balsamic vinegar, teriyaki sauce, molasses, and charred oak. It’s a critically massive hitter to style, with stewed apple, black currant, treacle, peppercorn, sultana, and fruit skins, getting darker and weightier with extra oak, black espresso, and bitter chocolate extending into the dry, spicy end. A rare whiskey. (714 bottles)
96 Redbreast Dream Cask 27 yr previous Port to Port Version, 56.3%, €580
Launched in 2023, the blenders mixed two casks of single pot nonetheless whiskey, a 27 yr previous bourbon cask and a 28 yr previous ruby port cask matured, and completed it for 3 months in tawny port casks.
Unctuously honeyed, with candy dried apricots, papaya, cantaloupe, and delicate sticky figs, it’s sprinkled with white pepper, including black cherry, plum, and orange peel to natural notes, clove, and wooden spices. Fruity darkish chocolate on the palate with succulent raisins and dried crimson berries whereas chile flakes present some spicy warmth. It’s a mighty whiskey and concludes underneath the burden of the oak with melted milk chocolate, burnt sugar, and cacao. (870 bottles)
94 Redbreast Dream Cask 38 yr previous Zenith Version, 45.3%, €1,000
Launched in 2024, the final chapter was distilled in 1985, similar to the primary version. It spent 27 years in second-fill bourbon barrels earlier than being recasked into oloroso sherry butts in 2013.
Spicy and natural on the nostril with underlying darkish sherry fruit, black cherry, sprigs of rosemary, black currant purée, Harmony grape jelly, dried citrus, and a few pretty layers of walnut and seasoned oak. Although it dances evenly on the tongue, there’s wealthy fruit on the palate with flavors of crimson apple, vanilla essence, and black cherry, then a sluggish, drying end of gingersnaps, darkish fruit, and rising oakiness. (822 bottles)
[ad_2]
