Redbreast 12 Year Old

Interesting. Great review of course but interesting in that someone recently wrote highly of the same expression and I was wondering if the 12 and 12 CS had thew same 1-2 punch as the Benromach 10 and 10/100. Now I will definitely try before I buy

I really like the 12 CS (review coming soon) and I also remember liking the standard 12. But I haven’t had this one in a long time. The Cask Strength version is very rich. My bottle is very toffee-heavy. (Spoiler alert) I love it.

Good review, thanks! I had a bottle earlier this year. Granted, it was my second pot still whisky, but I thought it was pretty good. Mid 80's ish.

I seem to remember thinking what it could be at CS as it had a good mouth feel for 40% but I'm sure some more 'pep' wouldn't hurt. Reviews on the CS seem to be generally pretty good?!

Definitely improved with time.

@Nozinan Had the pleasure of enjoying the Benromach 10 and 100 proof last summer. I'm a Benromach fan, it must be said, but how lovely are those two?! In some ways the standard 10 edges it in others, the 100 proof takes the cake; but what a way to get to know a whisky by having them side by side like that, eh?

Hmm, never tried the regular 12, jumped right to the cask strength which is a favorite in any category for me. Lustau was ok as well.

@RianC I've never tried the Bens side to side but I will probably pour off a little of the 10 for just that comparison when I open a 100/10 in the future. I do recall more sherry and less peat in the 57% version.

@Astroke For some, cask strength is "entry level". I can live with that... the 12 CS was my first Redbreast, and my first age stated Irish bottle.

Interesting review - good notes!

I've tried this Redbreast twice, from two different bottles, and had two different experiences. The first enjoyable the second tasteless and watery. I'll try a third time, I'm not giving up that easily.

It's not about giving up. It's about the fact that we have a finite number of dams to drink so we ought to make everyone as good as possible.

@cricklewood My experience with the 12 has nothing to do with your experience. It was not austere at all but a great mix of dried fruits and sherry spices, something like a Glenfarclas 15 going Irish. I would add that the Redbreast has offered a better quality over time.

On the other hand, I remember that, during a tasting that I organized for my family, I had the 12 followed by the 12 CS and the CS was all closed and only hot with alcohol. That was a surprise because it was not a new bottle. I came to realize the bottle had rest unattended for many months and I find that sometimes those unattended bottles react like new bottles, chamging a lot over the first two or three drams. That is why I would suggest that you sample your bottle again. I would certainly be glad to hear how it evolves.

@Nozinan, I always wonder with these releases (Ben 10, Laphroaig 10, Redbreast) if it's the same cask selection for both the regular and CS whiskys. @Robert99 I am not ready to give up on redbreast yet, there's aspects of the flavour profile I really like. I'll try our club bottle again in a bit, if not I might try a pour at a bar. Or perhaps I need to try the CS after all.