Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition

The Redbreast Kentucky Oak seemed somewhat overshadowed when Redbreast launched their wine barrel Finishing Series. I'm uncertain if this is a permanent offering or a limited edition, but given their success with limited releases, I assumed this would be excellent. Nose: Sandalwood. Shortbread cookie, vanilla, and honey. Apple, pear, and white grape. White chocolate. Toasted almond, pecan, macadamia, and walnut. Cocoa butter. Cinnamon, white pepper, peppermint, and prominent oak. Palate: Vanilla custard, toffee, shortbread cookie, and honey. Caramel and fudge. Sandalwood. Toasted almond, macadamia, and walnut. Pistachio. Cocoa and tobacco smoke. Black pepper and a faint hint of orange zest. Ginger. Apple. Dried apricot and cranberry. Peppermint. Finish: Toasted almond, macadamia, and walnut. Golden raisin. Cocoa, tobacco smoke, and orange zest. Ginger. Clove, nutmeg, black pepper/white pepper, cinnamon, and oak spice. A long finish. Fantastic product. Yet another excellent NAS one-off from Redbreast. This profile actually reminds me more of Mizunara Oak than Bourbon Oak. It doesn't change the fact that this is really good; in fact, it makes it even more unique. My sole criticism is the price. It's not unreasonable considering the quality, but it's not winning any awards for value for money at $120. Otherwise, I like the product. I feel Irish whiskies can go in one of two directions. They are either bottled at cask strength or have relatively low proofs. 101 proof seems like a nod to Kentucky, and it's nice to see a non-cask strength expression that delivers such power. 4.5/5.

Opened this to get a preliminary impression. Will expand later. Key takeaways: it's still sherry and bourbon, so disregard the marketing spin. The distinction is the use of a virgin oak cask, not charred, but air-dried. Thus, there's no actual bourbon connection, aside from the Kentucky origin and the unusual 101 proof. Clearly deceptive marketing. Nose - Vanilla and toffee. Perhaps some nutty notes. Quite a pleasant, rich Irish aroma. It does lack significant fruit. Taste - Sweet initially with vanilla and toffee (straightforward), followed by an intense spice explosion, and then an overwhelming, excessive woodiness...more wood...and more wood. Did I mention the wood? And it's not the desirable bourbon oak, but raw oak similar to what you'd find in wine or lambic beer. No charred flavors that can contribute so many wonderful elements. More spice. Not aged or mellowed sufficiently to provide any benefit. This would be better suited for blending into non-virgin oak casks, rather than bottling on its own. I'm currently rating this 1 star, but I will revisit to see if there's any improvement. I'm not optimistic.

The aroma presents graham cracker, honey, vanilla bean, toffee, nutmeg, rubber, sea salt, rock candy, and faint oak. Some ethanol is present but not overpowering. A promising start. The palate begins with butterscotch, vanilla, caramel, almond, and a subtle hint of stone fruits. The bourbon barrel influence is evident, giving it a sweeter, candy-like profile compared to other Redbreasts. The flavors are rich and deep. The finish features prominent toffee notes, barley malt, nutmeg from the nose, and lightly toasted oak. It lasts longer than one might expect given the proof. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a slight graininess, which is a minor drawback as the flavor profile calls for greater silkiness. It's a good whiskey, but I question if an Irish whiskey aged in bourbon barrels truly surpasses bourbon itself. For $99.99, I'm unlikely to repurchase it, as I'd prefer Lusteau, RB 15, or various bourbon options, making this a niche choice.

On the nose, abundant vanilla with a whisper of lemon peel. The palate echoes the strong vanilla presence, accompanied by noticeable peppery spice, subtle honey, and citrus touches. It concludes with a light and rather dry finish. For a bourbon drinker, the spice balances the typical Irish sweetness. Those expecting classic bourbon flavors from charred barrels will be disappointed. While its superiority over the standard Redbreast line is uncertain, it's a noteworthy variation.

I was a bit disappointed with Redbreast Kentucky Oak. It has some nice woody notes from the virgin American Oak but it lacks the classic Redbreast Sherry complexity. I didn’t think it tasted that different than Hinch Double Wood which is a blend and 1/3 of the price. The score the distiller gives it tells you everything…it’s an Irish Whiskey for Bourbon drinkers. My bourbon friends like this one, my Irish Whiskey friends (myself included) think Redbreast PX was far superior to Kentucky Oak.

TASTED WITHOUT KNOWING THE BRAND Smell: sherry barrel notes, cherry syrup, vanilla. Adding water brings out nail polish remover Palate: sugary, peppery, potentially cask strength. Ends with chocolate and anise. Reminds me of Aberlour or Dalmore, and the more I sip it the more I think it resembles Nikka. I'm guessing sherry barrel, from Speyside. It's deep and substantial. The malt character grows with time and a bit of water