Redbreast 21 Year Review

In-Depth Review

Redbreast 21 is probably the most awarded Irish whiskey in history.

And while I haven’t substantiated that claim, if you take a look at its awards cabinet, you’ll find that it’s won Jim Murray’s Irish Whiskey of the Year, World’s Best Pot Still Whiskey, Best in Show at the SF World Spirits Competition, and probably 100 other superlative awards across the industry. Suffice it to say that people love this whiskey. 

And looking at what Redbreast 21 brings to the table – there’s a lot to love. It’s aged for at least 21 years at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, it uses first fill ex-bourbon and ex-sherry barrels and features a traditional Irish pot still style of malted and unmalted barley that is triple distilled for extra smoothness. It sits near the top of the Redbreast line (second only to the newly released Redbreast 27), and retails for around $250 in the US.

I picked up this particular bottle at the Dublin Airport for closer to $150 (duty free). After falling in love with the entire Redbreast line over the last few years, I figured that it was time to try what some have called the best Irish whiskey in the world. I figured it’d be good. I just didn’t realize how good.

Age: 21 years

ABV: 46%

Cask: First fill ex-bourbon and first fill Sherry

MSRP: $250

Distillery Name: Midleton Distillery

Review Date: 1/14/21

Color: Light Gold

Nose: On the first whiff, this whiskey bursts out of the gate with honey, lemon zest, and short crust pastry. Then as the whisky sits in the glass, rich stewed fruits arrive with a dollop of coconut and tangy cream. Orange zest, apples and pears. This is an incredible nose – one I would happily sit for hours and enjoy.

Palate: Wow. The layers here are complex, deep, yet bright and approachable. It begins with a lovely creamy sweetness of vanilla, honey, and candied almonds. That classic Irish pot still character is on full display here. The fruit notes are younger – almost like green apples versus a candied red apple. Melon, pear, and a light toasted wood keep the sweet note theme going. Then comes a lovely lemon note with a bit of acidity that cuts through the sweetness and provides excellent balance. These are classic Irish whisky flavors cranked up to 11. This is a rich whisky with a great mouthfeel. The 46% ABV helps create a great oily texture that provides just enough bite.

Finish: Did someone add a little extra spice into those baked goods? Redbreast 21 features a long and lingering finish with generous amounts of spice mixed with notes of lemon curd, sugar cookies, and ginger. It’s like walking through a spicy bakeshop (if something like that existed).

Final Thoughts: This is a fabulous whiskey. After winning so many awards, it’s almost hard to believe that it could live up to the hype. And yet it does. It’s like drinking a lemon drop. Or maybe eating a wonderful Lemon Meringue pie. There’s pastry, fruits, and is full of those classic Irish whiskey flavors. Where Powers John’s Lane is full of syrupy overripe fruits, Redbreast 21 manages to capture those lovely fruit characteristics without hitting you over the head with them. This is the best Irish whiskey I’ve ever had. Full stop.

The only flaw in Redbreast 21 actually has nothing to do with what’s in the glass. The problem is that Redbreast 12 Cask Strength exists on shelves near me for under $70. Is Redbreast 21 more than 3X better than Redbreast 12 Cask Strength? I struggle to say it is. Don’t get me wrong – this is truly an amazing experience. But I’m just not sure its 3X better than its younger and more affordable brother.  

Score: 98