Merry Christmas Eve, Eve, to all those who celebrate, and happy holidays to all those who just enjoy bourbon, whiskey, and scotch as much as I do! This time of the year two distilleries hold a special place in my heart. As I have mentioned, Bardstown Bourbon Co. was one of the first bottles of bourbon I purchased and fell in love with nearly two years ago; when I truly first started this adventure. Shortly after, I purchased my first bottle of Redbreast Irish Whiskey and to this day, I am still a fan of every bottle I have tried, including tonight’s review. With that, tonight’s review from across the Atlantic is of Redbreast Irish Whiskey Kentucky Oak Edition.

As stated on the Redbreast website: The Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition is triple distilled in copper pot stills and matured in American Bourbon barrels and Spanish Oloroso Sherry butts. Then it’s finished for a minimum of 4 months in hand selected, air-dried American Oak from the Taylor family farm in Kentucky. The sweet notes of vanilla and elevated wood spice give you an unmistakable taste of Southern hospitality. 

I will admit I was a bit worried about finding this bottle of whiskey in NoCo, yet I should have not fretted. Unlike many new bottles in our area, we were able to find this whiskey the first weekend we decided to head out for the hunt and it is still available at decent pricing throughout the region.

Overall, I am very delighted with this release from Redbreast Irish Whiskey as it offers a unique expression that deliberately blends the characteristics of both whiskey and bourbon into one bottle. Full of fruitful flavors, sweet vanilla, and brown sugar, this whiskey is near a save it rating, however, the nose and the palate contain a bit of ethanol, perhaps from youth, that causes just a slight off-putting waft and taste. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Apple Juice, Pears, Vanilla, and Oak
• Palate: Apple Juice, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Dry Oak, and a bit of Ethanol
• Finish: Medium with every Nice Colorado Winters Hug and lasting notes of Sweet Apple, Vanilla, and Dry Oak
• 2022 MSRP: $119
• 2022 National Average: $299
• Proof: 101
• My Rating: Drink it!

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman