Redbreast Lustau Edition

Redbreast, the Irish pot still whiskey, is good. Most people agree on that. For their Lustau Edition they collaborated with sherry producer Lustau who had the cooperage of Antonio Páez Lobato build bespoke casks. The whiskey first matured some 9 to 12 years on bourbon and oloroso casks before it was finished for 12 months in these new Lustau casks. The result is delicious.

The nose is very sweet with lots of earthy notes and the smell of old wood. The sherry influcences are there, but not as you are used to. Much more delicate and refinded. Baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon, milk chocolate, vanilla and raisins. Some hazelnuts. Pineapple cubes. Candied fruit. Very soft.

It is less delicate and much spicier on the palate, though. Think cinnamon, pepper and some cloves. Apples again, but also a hint of banana and loads of honey. Raisins become sultanas, milk chocolate moves over to allow some orange liqueur to move in. Nicely balanced, by the way.

The finish is surprisingly long, sweet and warm.

It is a bit of an atypical Redbreast (less tropical) but absolutely interesting. Available for around 70 EUR, which is rather steep in my book. But you do get some bespoke Irish-Spanish custom whiskey in return.

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