Redbreast is commonly lauded as a contender for the best Irish whiskey on shelves today. It’s got the hardware to back up the allegation, too. Since the brand’s relaunch, 33 years ago, the producer has picked up more top-tier awards than any of its competitors in the category. And so, fans of aged spirits from the Emerald Isle ought to be delighted by the latest addition to its portfolio: the supremely sippable 101-proof Missouri Oak Edition.
The single-pot still offering consists of non-age-stated liquid collected from both sherry as well as ex-bourbon barrels, married for a 10-month finish in virgin oak sourced from the dense Ozark forests of Missouri. What hits the bottle is a creamy liquid, that looks and smells like over-ripened pear. But the taste is more concerned with berry fruit and spiced caramel, with a long finish dominated by toasty tannins.
As with all Redbreast expressions, the base spirit here is a single-pot still whiskey—meaning it is distilled from a combination of both malted and unmalted barley. This method of whiskey making, unique to Ireland, often results in a rich and weighty spirit, brimming with cereal and spice. Redbreast expertly amplifies these notes with quality cooperage, which is why it is so often regarded as the preeminent purveyor of the style.
Usually, that means using barrels that have been slowly seasoned, over years, with either American whiskey, port, or sherry. We’ve never tasted anything from the brand that incorporates virgin casks. And while unused oak is mandatory for bourbon and rye, it’s not frequently used for aging Irish whiskey—and even less so for the earthier, single-pot still style.
This can run the risk of adding too much oak to the flavor profile. The skilled hand and palate of master blender Dave McCabe was instrumental in avoiding this outcome. Instead he steered towards something tannic, yet still recognizably Redbreast.
"It was crucial for us to regularly sample the evolving liquid to ensure it imparted a measured influence that didn’t overpower the signature Redbreast style,” he says. “After 10 months, the expression attained its peak flavor, with the Missouri oak imparting distinct notes of cinnamon and ground ginger, complemented by subtle nutty undertones reminiscent of pecan pie.”
It’s not just Irish whiskey lovers who will flock to this release. Ornithologists also might want to sing its praises. To celebrate the launch, Redbreast has sponsored a research study into the very songbird that graces the label of the new bottling: the Cerulean Warbler, indigenous to the forests of the Ozark. The project enlisted the help of the American Bird Conservancy to refine forest management guidelines to better protect and enhance the animal’s habitat. So, why not enjoy an entire flight from the avian-inspired brand. You know, for the birds.
Redbreast Missouri Oak is now available exclusively in US markets, at a suggested retail price of $199 per bottle.
Related: The 23 Best Irish Whiskeys to Drink Any Time
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