The Story
21 years. Redbreast — the apex of the standard Redbreast age-stated range, presenting Ireland's most celebrated single pot still whiskey at 21 years of maturation — non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV with the full textural richness of two decades of Irish oak aging.
At 21 years, the single pot still character that defines Redbreast — the oily, spicy, full-bodied quality produced by the unmalted barley mashbill — has integrated fully with the American bourbon, American virgin oak, and Spanish sherry cask program to produce a whiskey of remarkable tropical fruit depth that surprised the industry when it launched. The banana, butterscotch, and mango character at 21 years is unexpected from a whiskey this aged — a product of the pot still's fruit ester production at the specific maturation point.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Banana, butterscotch, fresh cream, bacon fat, tropical fruit
- Palate: Ripe mango, brioche, toffee, textured pot still spice
- Finish: Very long, tropical, warming wood spice
Specs
- Distillery: Midleton Distillery, County Cork, Ireland
- Style: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
- Age: 21 years
- Bottling: Non-chill filtered, 46% ABV
- Size: 750ml
Browse all Midleton at Wooden Cork or explore our Irish whiskey collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why does the 21 Year have such unusual tropical fruit character for an aged whiskey? The single pot still's unmalted barley mashbill produces higher ester levels than grain or malt whiskey. At 21 years those esters have developed into the specific tropical fruit compounds — banana, mango, brioche — that define the expression. The result is more unusual at this age than the darker, oakier profile most people expect from a 21-year spirit.
- Is the 21 Year the top of the standard Redbreast range? Yes — the Redbreast standard age-stated range runs 12, 15, and 21 years. Above the 21 Year sits the Redbreast 27 Year (also in the collection), which is a limited ultra-aged tier beyond the standard range.
Description
21 years. Redbreast — the apex of the standard Redbreast age-stated range, presenting Ireland's most celebrated single pot still whiskey at 21 years of maturation — non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV with the full textural richness of two decades of Irish oak aging.
At 21 years, the single pot still character that defines Redbreast — the oily, spicy, full-bodied quality produced by the unmalted barley mashbill — has integrated fully with the American bourbon, American virgin oak, and Spanish sherry cask program to produce a whiskey of remarkable tropical fruit depth that surprised the industry when it launched. The banana, butterscotch, and mango character at 21 years is unexpected from a whiskey this aged — a product of the pot still's fruit ester production at the specific maturation point.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Banana, butterscotch, fresh cream, bacon fat, tropical fruit
- Palate: Ripe mango, brioche, toffee, textured pot still spice
- Finish: Very long, tropical, warming wood spice
Specs
- Distillery: Midleton Distillery, County Cork, Ireland
- Style: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
- Age: 21 years
- Bottling: Non-chill filtered, 46% ABV
- Size: 750ml
Browse all Midleton at Wooden Cork or explore our Irish whiskey collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why does the 21 Year have such unusual tropical fruit character for an aged whiskey? The single pot still's unmalted barley mashbill produces higher ester levels than grain or malt whiskey. At 21 years those esters have developed into the specific tropical fruit compounds — banana, mango, brioche — that define the expression. The result is more unusual at this age than the darker, oakier profile most people expect from a 21-year spirit.
- Is the 21 Year the top of the standard Redbreast range? Yes — the Redbreast standard age-stated range runs 12, 15, and 21 years. Above the 21 Year sits the Redbreast 27 Year (also in the collection), which is a limited ultra-aged tier beyond the standard range.
