by Jim Kelly
These days, my go-to spirit is Redbreast 12-Year Irish Whiskey, crafted at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork.
The story goes that, to avoid the English malt tax in the early 1800s, distillers in Ireland began blending malted and unmalted barley, which was a departure from traditional single malt methods. That mixture is what we now know as single pot still whiskey, with a creamy mouthfeel and distinctive spicy character. Redbreast 12-year is triple distilled in copper pot stills, then matured in a combination of sherry casks and Kentucky bourbon barrels.
My journey with Irish whiskey started with an occasional shot on St. Patrick’s Day or a splash in an Irish coffee until my late younger brother discovered Redbreast when it returned to the market in the early nineties. He introduced it to my older brother and me, and Redbreast 12-Year became a shared favorite for holiday gifts and special occasions. This past spring, my daughter and I took a trip to Ireland and visited the Midleton Distillery for a tour & tasting experience. She’s a fan now too! I hope you can find a special spirit to share with your family and friends over the years; my choice is Redbreast 12-Year!
