|
24th June 2022 |
Redbreast
unveil the Kentucky Oak Edition, the
first release in the Redbreast American
Oak Series, a limited edition series
available exclusively in the United
States which celebrates the American oak
used to shape the iconic Irish single pot
still whiskey.
 Irish
Distillers today unveiled the first
release in their new Redbreast American
Oak Series, a dedicated whiskey
collection for the United
States and the new US exclusive series
has launched with the limited release
'Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition'.
The American Oak series celebrates the
influential and integral role of native
wood in the production of Redbreast
Irish Whiskey, giving provenance to the
wood and unique American Oak influences
to the whiskey.
The first limited release in the series,
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition, like all
Irish pot whiskey's has been produced
using a mash bill of malted and unmalted
barley, it has been triple distilled in
copper pot stills and matured in
American Oak Bourbon barrels and Spanish
Oloroso sherry butts, before being
finished for a period of 3 to 7 months
in naturally air-dried PEFC certified
American White Oak sourced from the
Taylor Family’s Elk Cave Farm in
Kentucky. Redbreast tells me that these
casks have been hand selected for
finishing, using the best quality white
oak, to impart additional sweet notes of
vanilla and elevated wood spices.
"Redbreast is renowned for its heavy
sherry influence," explains Master
Blender Billy Leighton. "This can often
mean that its ex-bourbon counterpart is
overlooked, even though Kentucky white
oak barrels, which have previously held
bourbon, are central to the Redbreast
DNA.
"This series explores the role American
white oak plays in the composition of
Redbreast, and takes it one step
further, with a final flourish in virgin
casks to enable the wood contribution to
truly take centre stage."
Seeking the best quality barrels,
Leighton and the team at Midleton
Distillery partnered with the owners of
Elk Cave Farm, Clifton and sons Scott
and Steve Taylor, to source high grade
white oak from their 1,300-acre tree
farm. As committed environmentalists,
the Taylor family have championed
sustainable farming practices since
purchasing the land in 1959 and today
are recognised across the country for
the award-winning methods used on their
farm. Under the Taylor family’s
guardianship, Elk Cave Farm has become
renowned for successfully applying the
oak shelterwood system in their mature
oak forests. Shelterwood, a forestry
technique that emphasizes early tending
of young oak seedlings by improving
forest light conditions and reducing
competitors, has proven successful in
the Taylors’ mission to sustainably
manage their oak forests. In addition,
these productive oak forests will
provide valuable wildlife habitat, clean
water and fresh air today and for future
generations.
Once felled, sawn and air dried, the oak
was worked into 63 casks and shipped to
Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork, to be
filled with a bespoke batch of Redbreast
whiskey. Leighton and his team
diligently monitored the barrels until
the perfect balance of flavour, aroma
and wood contribution had been achieved.
The folks at Midleton tell me that
the result is luxuriously smooth and
distinctly Redbreast with an additional
layer of sweet vanilla and elevated wood
spices imparted from the virgin Kentucky
casks. Bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV),
the non-chill filtered whiskey
effortlessly balances the pot still
spices and dried fruit with the
intricate aroma of freshly cut cedarwood
and decadent notes of almond and brown
sugar toffee for an elevated flavour
profile.
Redbreast Kentucky Oak will be
exclusively available in the US at an SRP of $95.99.
Unfortunately it is not available on
this side of the pond but you will still
find the current Redbreast core whiskey
range available from specialist online
whisky retailers
such as The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of
Malt
|
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Review
|
Producer's Tasting Notes:
Nose:
Opens with notes of freshly cut
cedarwood, almond and vanilla, while
succulent dark berries resting on new
oak shavings enhance the sweet fruit and
warming charred wood influences,
complementing the pot still spices.
Taste:
Spices to the fore of cinnamon, nutmeg
and clove that continue to build over
time working in tandem with the oak’s
rich tannins while balanced with
autumnal fruit notes that delicately
linger in the background along with
sweet and decadent notes of brown sugar
toffee and vanilla.
Finish:
Lasting finish with the fruits the first
to slowly fade, leaving the pot still
spices to linger effortlessly in harmony
with the sweet tones and intricate
nature of the American oak.
|
Where To Buy Whisky Onlinee
|
|
Select a country for a list of
specialist Whisky shops who delivers to
you:
|
Whisky Focus
<<<Back to
Whisky Focus for more Whisky News
|
Top
Of Page |
|
|
Online Whisky Shops |
|
|
|
New Whiskies |
| Check out the latest
new whisky releases. |
 |
| Worldwide delivery
available.
More Info |
|
