Redbreast Lustau Review
In-Depth Review
It’s no secret that I absolutely love Redbreast. And after spending a few months with newer craft Irish whiskies, I find myself coming back to familiar territory. Redbreast remains one of the quintessential Irish whiskies, with a growing fanbase that has unfortunately pushed prices higher than ever before. Long gone are the days of $40 Redbreast 12 and $60 Cask Strength expressions but with rising popularity has come innovation. Redbreast has released more expressions in their “Iberian Series” in recent years, experimenting with different casks and finishes to take the whiskey in new and interesting angles.
And because Midleton is known for making heavy hitters like Jameson and Powers, Redbreast can sometimes fly under the radar. But its unique combination of pot still distillation and varied cask management means that even the “entry level” Redbreast 12 is packed with complexity. And while many Redbreast expressions have age statements (12, 15, 21, 27), today we are going to dive into a non-age stated expression that shows off some of that unique cask management. To create the Lustau expression, Midleton takes takes 9-12 year old single pot still whiskey aged in a variety of woods, and finishes it for an additional year in Oloroso sherry casks sourced from Bodegas Lustau in Spain. It’s then bottled at 46% ABV, and priced in my area around $67. Let’s dive in and explore the sherried side of Redbreast!
Age: Non-Age Stated (But around 9-12 years)
ABV: 46%
Cask: Combination of seasoned American oak and Oloroso sherry casks
MSRP: $65 (Approx)
Distillery Name: Midleton Distillery
Review Date: 10/10/23
Color: Deep Gold
Nose: No surprise that on the nose there are big traditional sherry notes of fig, sultanas, mulled wine, and crushed almonds. What is surprising however, is the crisp apple peel and touch of ocean air that I noticed – something I wasn’t expecting from a whiskey that’s been finished in fresh Oloroso sherry butts. The typical lemon shortbread found on the normal Redbreast 12 is overpowered by the heavy, thick, sweet sherry notes – but if you look hard enough, it can be found hiding underneath. Overall, the nose delivers a wonderfully complex preamble to the palate.
Palate: The palate starts off with bright red berries, more dates, more of that Oloroso nuttiness, and zesty pound cake. This is like a lemon pound cake that’s been covered in a thick, fruity, berry compote. The mouthfeel is great with a thick viscous mouth coating body. It’s definitely on the sweeter side compared to the typical Redbreast 12, and features more toasted hazelnut, and chocolate toffee bark. It’s an easy drinker, that feels more suited for dessert than appetizers.
Finish: Medium length finish that features sweet cream, clove, and a splash of fresh honey. The impact of the European oak is felt most strongly here, with more wood spice appearing and leaving with the faintest touch of heat.
Final Thoughts: Redbreast Lustau may be the best kept secret in the Redbreast lineup. Its nose is so good you’ll want to chew it, the palate is sweet and deep, and the finish leaves you with a beautiful splash of wood spice. The 46% ABV is perfect here – and allows the marriage of Oloroso casks and Irish pot still whiskey to shine through. So while most covet Redbreast 12 (and it’s more expensive 12 year Cask Strength brother), I believe this Redbreast Lustau delivers much more depth and complexity for a similar price point. And while it doesn’t reach the incredible highs of some batches of Redbreast 12 Cask Strength, Redbreast Lustau is an easier, sweeter, and more approachable expression of Redbreast.
