Redbreast 21 Year Old Irish Whiskey

Redbreast 21 Year Old is a majestic, ultra-premium Irish single pot still whiskey that exudes depth, elegance, and complexity. With over two decades of maturation in multiple cask types, it’s a refined and layered spirit meant for contemplative sipping.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Redbreast 21 is produced in Ireland under the tradition of single pot still whiskey, meaning it’s made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in casks. For this 21-year expression, the whiskey sees extended aging in a combination of bourbon barrels, sherry butts, and finishing casks (often Portuguese wine or Madeira), blending those wood influences into the underlying fruit and spice character. The multi-cask maturation gives it both richness and finesse, drawing on the legacy of Redbreast’s house style—fruit-driven, round, and aromatically complex.

Tasting Profile

Nose

A luxuriant bouquet of dried fruits—figs, apricot, raisins—with stewed orchard fruit and orange marmalade. Underneath lies warm baking spice (cinnamon, nutmeg), toasted oak, caramel, vanilla, and a delicate note of dark chocolate or espresso. Subtle florals or honeyed tones may emerge with air.

Palate

Silky and layered, the palate opens into rich almond and marzipan, orchard fruits (peach, pear), and dried citrus peel. The sherry and finishing casks bring dried plums, date, fig, and raisin sweetness, while oak spice (christmas cake spice, allspice) weaves through. A touch of dark chocolate, ginger, and mild tobacco or leather may deepen mid-palate. Despite the age, the texture remains lively, not heavy, with good balance between sweetness, wood, and spice.

Finish

Long, warming, and composed. The lingering echo highlights dried fruit, dark berries, oak spice, and a gentle undercurrent of honey and toffee. The finish remains elegant, with fruit and wood fading slowly into soft warmth.

Structure & Key Details

Serving Suggestions & Enjoyment

• Best served neat, or with a few drops of water to unlock depth and aromas.

• Use a tulip or Glencairn-style glass to concentrate the aromas.

• Pair with dark chocolate, aged cheeses, or dried fruit desserts that echo its rich, fruity character.

• Because of its depth and subtlety, avoid over-chilling or diluting—it’s built to be savored slowly.

"Wow! After the wonderful 12 year old cask strength, Redbreast does it again. This is a different beast altogether, but it is a stunner. This is Roger Waters doing The Wall: over the top, unsubtle, and totally entertaining. There's lots going on: fermenting apples, juicy oils, spice, and dark cherry and berry fruits zip and fizz over the palate, the wood influence is sublime. I'm comfortably numb." Whiskey Advocate 96 Points

"A generous and sumptuous whiskey, aromas of baking spice, baked stone fruit, and lightly toasted grains are integrated and alluring. Smooth and stately, the flavors are rich with honeyed grains and a velveteen texture. The lightly spicy finish adds freshness. A delight." 96 Points, 2021 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

The Redbreast 21 was award "Second Best Whiskey in the World" in 2017 by the Whiskey Bible, and it was reported that this was "the best result for an Irish entrant in Whisky Bible history and only the second time the Emerald Isle has made the top three. This Pure Pot Still whiskey scored 97 out of 100, earning praise from Murray for "one of the most wonderful noses on this planet" which helps make it "one of the world's most beautiful and iconic whisk(e)ys"."