I do have a lot of love for redbreast and my favourites are undoubtedly the 12 cask strength and the 15. The 15 is certainly one of my all time favourites. I guess it is maybe because of the different flavours I get of it. I am not every day in a mood for a cask strength and then the 15 has a step ahead. I have not opened my 18 years yet so I can’t comment on that. But for me the lustau although mouthwatering is lacking in complexity compared to the 15 and the cask strength. But it is a really good one too. The tawny port is also still unopened so I can’t comment on that one. Great review and I look forward to the next one.
Thank you, I agree with your notes especially on the lustau. I think you may also find the tawny lacking when compared to the 15 and CS but I do find it improves over time. Let me know how you find the 18! I imagine that will be by far the best but who knows, perhaps the sweetness is overcooked?
@jorisdiependaele7977 even better! 100%, it will taste even better if you save it for a special occasion. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, cheers!
That is an incredible journey and such a great series. The 15 is that good? Interesting. I just missed a sale here for $30 off. I passed over in that I just love the 12 year cask. Cheers!
Thanks Jon, I really enjoy it. Having said that I wasn’t carried away with it the first month or two and then I came back to it recently and the second half of the bottle went down so well. I prefer the 15 but then again I’m the same with springbank too and I know most people prefer the 12CS of both. Maybe I’m just appreciating whisky outside of too much sherry at this moment in time because I used to prefer the 12CS
Ash - I really appreciated that you owned up to not agreeing with the tasting notes on the Tawny Port and gave your own instead. Also agree with and appreciate your comments on the pricing. Proper integrity! 👏 Tasting notes frequently make me doubt my palate. I know from experience that my sense of smell, (and consequently my palate), are not refined, but sometimes the notes are unrecognisable to me. I know palates differ from person to person, but it’s good to know that I’m not the only one who sometimes feels that tasting notes can be quite misleading. 👍🙂 RB12 CS is my favourite RB so far, (birdseye vanilla custard on the back of the palate finish for me), but not had some of the others. You make the 15yr sound a little “ryeish” with the mint notes. Have I misinterpreted?
Thank you, I really appreciate that! I always try to remember, they’re trying to sell you this whisky and it worked on me 😅 but I have 0 bias or interest in selling you the bottle so I’ll be honest as I can be so I think that’s where the notes can differ. I have no relationships with any brand or distillery so I can stay honest which is why I started in the first place. I’m glad you appreciate that 🙂 Haha true, great point! Yes I would say so because I don’t get intense spice really in the 15, certainly no pepper. The mint note is common in ryes so I get what you mean but it doesn’t come across that way even though I say mint and oak. It’s probably the most different redbreast I’ve had from their standard flavour profile. Took me a while to get into but now I just love it! Sweet mint and juicy fig with oak but still carrying the pot still creaminess, for me anyway. Hope that helps a little!
Good review! Love the Redbreasts as well. I have the 15 last among my 4 though. CS first, Lustau 2nd, 12 3rd and 15 last. The 15 is very popular though. Rebought both the 12 and the 12 CS thus far. Would like to try the Tawny and the PX for sure
I love redbreast. I have the 12 in the collection at the moment I've bought it several times. I've also had the Lustau. I prefer the 12. I like the buttery softness. I want to get the 15. The prices are increasing. I paid £50 for the 12 a couple of weeks ago now it's £55 and up. I've even seen it for £67 in my local whisky shop. I may have to look for an alternative. The 12 is really nice but I don't think it's worth £60 plus.
I agree with you, I would say personally, wait for Black Friday in 3 weeks and I would also push the 12 cask strength on you. For the extra £20-30 it’s so so worth it because like you say, 60 for the 12 is just way too much and I also think because Black Friday is coming, a lot of shops overcharge now so that they can give you “amazing deals” once the day arrives
I do have a lot of love for redbreast and my favourites are undoubtedly the 12 cask strength and the 15. The 15 is certainly one of my all time favourites. I guess it is maybe because of the different flavours I get of it. I am not every day in a mood for a cask strength and then the 15 has a step ahead. I have not opened my 18 years yet so I can’t comment on that. But for me the lustau although mouthwatering is lacking in complexity compared to the 15 and the cask strength. But it is a really good one too. The tawny port is also still unopened so I can’t comment on that one. Great review and I look forward to the next one.
Thank you, I agree with your notes especially on the lustau. I think you may also find the tawny lacking when compared to the 15 and CS but I do find it improves over time.
Let me know how you find the 18! I imagine that will be by far the best but who knows, perhaps the sweetness is overcooked?
@ It is not an 18 but the 21 year that I have. I will open it on a special occasion and will let you know how that tastes. 🤭
@jorisdiependaele7977 even better! 100%, it will taste even better if you save it for a special occasion. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, cheers!
That is an incredible journey and such a great series. The 15 is that good? Interesting. I just missed a sale here for $30 off. I passed over in that I just love the 12 year cask. Cheers!
Thanks Jon, I really enjoy it. Having said that I wasn’t carried away with it the first month or two and then I came back to it recently and the second half of the bottle went down so well. I prefer the 15 but then again I’m the same with springbank too and I know most people prefer the 12CS of both. Maybe I’m just appreciating whisky outside of too much sherry at this moment in time because I used to prefer the 12CS
Ash - I really appreciated that you owned up to not agreeing with the tasting notes on the Tawny Port and gave your own instead. Also agree with and appreciate your comments on the pricing. Proper integrity! 👏
Tasting notes frequently make me doubt my palate. I know from experience that my sense of smell, (and consequently my palate), are not refined, but sometimes the notes are unrecognisable to me.
I know palates differ from person to person, but it’s good to know that I’m not the only one who sometimes feels that tasting notes can be quite misleading. 👍🙂
RB12 CS is my favourite RB so far, (birdseye vanilla custard on the back of the palate finish for me), but not had some of the others.
You make the 15yr sound a little “ryeish” with the mint notes. Have I misinterpreted?
Thank you, I really appreciate that! I always try to remember, they’re trying to sell you this whisky and it worked on me 😅 but I have 0 bias or interest in selling you the bottle so I’ll be honest as I can be so I think that’s where the notes can differ. I have no relationships with any brand or distillery so I can stay honest which is why I started in the first place. I’m glad you appreciate that 🙂
Haha true, great point! Yes I would say so because I don’t get intense spice really in the 15, certainly no pepper. The mint note is common in ryes so I get what you mean but it doesn’t come across that way even though I say mint and oak. It’s probably the most different redbreast I’ve had from their standard flavour profile. Took me a while to get into but now I just love it! Sweet mint and juicy fig with oak but still carrying the pot still creaminess, for me anyway. Hope that helps a little!
Good review! Love the Redbreasts as well. I have the 15 last among my 4 though. CS first, Lustau 2nd, 12 3rd and 15 last. The 15 is very popular though. Rebought both the 12 and the 12 CS thus far. Would like to try the Tawny and the PX for sure
Thank you! I think you’d like the PX if you can find it for a good price 🙂 very very sweet though!
I love redbreast. I have the 12 in the collection at the moment I've bought it several times. I've also had the Lustau. I prefer the 12. I like the buttery softness. I want to get the 15. The prices are increasing. I paid £50 for the 12 a couple of weeks ago now it's £55 and up. I've even seen it for £67 in my local whisky shop. I may have to look for an alternative. The 12 is really nice but I don't think it's worth £60 plus.
I agree with you, I would say personally, wait for Black Friday in 3 weeks and I would also push the 12 cask strength on you. For the extra £20-30 it’s so so worth it because like you say, 60 for the 12 is just way too much and I also think because Black Friday is coming, a lot of shops overcharge now so that they can give you “amazing deals” once the day arrives