Earlier in May (on world whisky day), a week or so before I flew to Feis Ile, Readbreast Irish whiskey a Facebook Live Tasting from the Midleton Distillery. Head Blender Billy Leighton and [Apprentice] Blender Dave McCabe unveiled a very rare whiskey , code named: ‘Redbreast dream cask’ and given the FB hashtag of #RedbreastDreamCask. It appeared that quite a few samples were shipped to people who wanted in, and to a few bloggers as well. They really gave no details beforehand, only saying that it was a very special whisky tasting, and so it was…
As the event unfolded Billy Leighton revealed what we’re about to taste : a 31 year-old !!! Redbreast, single pot still, distilled 31st of October 1985 and initially matured in refill bourbon wood., then it was re-casked (in 2011) to a sherry butt, and presented at Cask Strength of 46,7% (Obviously NCF, no color added). The FB live event was lots of fun, and you can watch a recording (see video).
Redbreast ‘Dream Cask’, 31yo vintage 1985 , sherry butt #41207 , 46,7% abv 
Nose: Deep and mesmerising; oloroso sherry notes up front , juicy with ripe red fruit: berries,black currant, plum and a hint of dried mango too, balanced by ripe citrus , blood oranges. There’s a good measure of fantastic polished oak , old wooden benches as the age is magnificently present. A certain hint of black truffles, reminiscent of good Armagnac.
Palate: As close as it gets to a tropical fruit salad , what have we got here? Mango,pineapple,kiwi,banana , red grapefruit- the works. It’s just splendid. The sweet juices work well with those , there’s berry jam,and more if that old wood and varnish, that I adore! A bit of wax and wood spice. Delicious .
Finish : Long , very long with the tropical fruit extravaganza continuing for some time. Dry, wood varnish and old classy wood benches, and more of the spice.
Thoughts:
Frankly this is by far the best redbreast whisky i have ever tried! I do hope this cask will get bottled at some point, as this is pure gold, really so. I bet it’s going to be very expensive if it ever makes it to the market, but those who could afford it – wow, they will be a happy bunch.
It’s nothing short of Superb.
Score: 93/100
Many thanks to Middleton distillery for hosting this incredible event, and sharing this drop of greatness with us. Superb.