This month, we rocket back to the ‘old world’ of whisky with nothing less than a legendary Irish sherry bomb! February’s Malt of the Month is a collaboration between one of the world’s most highly recognised Sherry producers, and one of Irelands most popular whiskey brands. We are proud to get our hands on the ‘Redbreast Lustau Sherry Finish’ for our members this month.
The Rebreast Lustau Sherry Finish is a unique collaboration between the Bodega Lustau and Midleton Distillery. Distilled in the Irish ‘Single Pot Still’ style. The Redbreast Lustau Sherry Finish is made from a mixture of both malted and unmalted barley. Triple distilled in the one pot still at the Midleton Distillery, aged for 9-12 years in Bourbon and Sherry casks, then finished for 12 months in first fill Oloroso Sherry casks from Bodega Lustau. The result is the ultimate sherried style of Redbreast and that Bodega Lustau agreed to their name being used for the expression tells a lot about the quality of the casks they have used in this.
There is an older Lustau expression available (at a cheaper price), but we don’t do plain here at the Single Malt Whisky Club so the one we are featuring is the latest Redbreat Lustau ‘Sherry Finish’.
OUR TASTING NOTES
FROM THE DISTILLERY
Nose: Rich infusion of dark fruits, prunes, dates and figs with liquorice, marzipan, toasted oak and aromatic spices.
Palate: Silky smooth Pot Still; assertive spices balanced with richness of the sherry finish and contribution of fresh Spanish Oak.
Finish: Endless. Sweetness and assorted spices endure while Oloroso Sherry and Spanish Oak have the last word.
ABOUT THE DISTILLERY
Without doubt, the Redbreast story is one of ‘small business does well and expands beyond all expectations. The story starts back in 1857 when a small bottle shop opens in Dublin. The store – W&A Gilby, gets off to a flying start.
In the first 10 years operations, they had expanded their premises twice. The second expansion involved the acquisition of ‘vaults’ to store spirits. Gilby was by now a self-described ‘wine importers and distillers’ and the second expansion included tasting rooms plus labs and stills for determining alcohol content of wines they imported.
In 1887, Gilby formed an alliance with Irish whisky giant – Jamesons. The Gilby house whiskey brands were now fully supplied with new make from the Jamesons distilleries.
The redbreast brand makes it’s debut in 1912 as ‘Redbreast J.J. Liquor whiskey 12 Years Old’. The ‘J.J.’ pays homage to John Jameson who supplies the spirit. The name ‘Redbreast’ itself refers to the bird, Robin Redbreast (the only songbird to Winter in Ireland), and is attributed to the then Chairman of Gilbey’s, who was an avid bird-fancier. Soon the Redbreast is nicknamed ‘the Priest’s Bottle’ as it was a staple in many Irish priest’s cupboard.
In 1974 – IDL (Irish Distillers Limited) – who by now owned Jamesons decided that they would no longer make their new make spirits available to independent bottlers and the like. By some crafty boardroom work, Gilbey’s managed to retain supply from Jamesons until the closure of IDL’s Bow St. Distillery in 1971.
Gilbey’s kept releasing yearly batches of Redbreast until 1985 when the last Batch of Gilbey;s Redbreast was sold. The ‘Redbreast’ brand was then acquired by IDL in the same year. After this, the brand was effectively ‘mothballed’ by IDL until 1991 – when they released the ‘new’ Redbreast – single pot distilled at Midleton Distillery.
