Must Try

Redbreast 1989 30 Year Old Port Finish

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Redbreast 1989 30 Year Old Port Finish
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
The Whisky Exchange Exclusive

57.2% ABV
$900 – $1,800 (initially sold for £675 in 2020)
Website
Redbreast 1989 30 Year Old Port Finish TWE Exclusive Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey 57.2%

What the Retailer Says

A limited-edition 1989 Redbreast single pot still Irish whiskey, bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. Initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels, it was re-casked in 1995 into a Port cask from the Douro Valley in Portugal. Rich aromas of dried mango, plums, dark berries, oak, vanilla and coffee fill the nose, complemented by notes of cinnamon, exotic fruits, dark berries, vanilla and toasted oak.
Cask #: 38635
Number of Bottles: 444

Tasting Notes From The Producer
Nose: Rich medley of fruits, from sweet mango to fleshy ripe plums to dark berry fruits. The oak adds notes of toasted wood with touches of vanilla, brown sugar and roasted coffee beans along with a mild touch of leather. Pot still spices continue to build and evolve overtime adding further depth and complexity.
Palate: Initial notes of cinnamon spice and soft wood tannins along with exotic fruits and dark berries. Rich mouth-coating texture with sweet notes of vanilla and treacle toffee layered over a toasted oak foundation.
Finish: Lingering with the ripe fruits and pot still spices having the final word.

Tasting Notes From Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange
Nose: All of the fruit, from the fresh to the exotic, dried, and imaginary. Gummi bears, apples, pears, mango, pineapple, sultanas, raisins: if you can think of it, it’s probably here. Along with the fruit is aromatic old oak, many times polished, brown sugar and gentle spice.
Palate: Rich and rounded on the tongue, with toffee and caramel leading to the intense fruit of the nose. The tropical notes sit up front, with rich and sweet raisins, glacé cherries and plums sitting behind. Aniseed and cinnamon spice bring up the rear, with a touch of menthol freshness.
Finish: Brown sugar and cinnamon dusted pastry cases, filled with fruit. Gentle aniseed spiciness lingers.
Comment: One of the fruitiest whiskies I’ve ever tried, mixing classic, old-Irish tropical- and orchard-fruit notes with rich, dark dried fruit. It’s complex, layered and both rewards and deserves long consideration.

What Gary Says

Nose: Robust dark fruits, plums, poached pears, mango, berry compote, toasted oak and leather.
Palate: Thick and syrupy with dark fruits leaning towards tropical with coconut and mango, dark chocolate toffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherries and honey.
Finish: Long and slightly drying with fading fruit and spice notes.
Comments: This is an absolute gem. Probably 4 of my top 5 ever tastes of Irish whisky have been exclusive offerings by The Whisky Exchange (so thanks to them, but also my good fortune to have friends who gift me samples of these fine bottles!) This is intense, and amazing neat – although if you add a few drops of water it brings the fruit more into that tropical lane. Just delightful!

Rating: Must Try

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Yellow Spot 1999 23 Year Old Malaga Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Yellow Spot 1999 23 Year Old
Malaga Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

57.5% ABV
$705-$850
Website
Yellow Spot 1999 23 Year Old Malaga Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

What the Retailer Says

This exceptional whiskey takes everything we love about the classic Yellow Spot to new heights. At 23 years old, it’s a perfect example of cask and spirit working in harmony. Following initial maturation in bourbon barrels, this fruity pot still whiskey was filled into a single sweet Malaga cask. Over the years, the influence of this Spanish fortified wine has imparted a luxurious roundness to the palate along with notes of sultana, vanilla and warming oak. Limited to just 564 bottles, this unique Yellow Spot is available Exclusively at The Whisky Exchange.

Cask Number: 60075
564 Bottles
Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich and intense fruitcake with vanilla icing, cinnamon, toffee and green tobacco.
Palate: Stewed pears, apples, peaches and figs with honey, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg and allspice.
Finish: Long and drying with fading fruit notes and baking spices.
Comments: This is a damn fine pour – with the flavor intensity you hope for given the age and ABV. Really love the ABV for this age too! A bit of water doesn’t hurt it one bit, bringing citrus notes forward on the nose and a bit of honey, and on the palate amps up the honey while giving a nod to orange liqueur (like someone added a couple of drops of Grand Mariner). Delicious on every level, although the price point is challenging. The fine folks at The Whisky Exchange have done some stellar Irish picks (Redbreast 19 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask and Green Spot 1991 26 Year Old Marsala Cask were both exclusives, and amazing). This is similarly priced to that Green Spot 26 yr old, although I enjoyed that one a bit more.  For my tastes, this reminds me that matured, cask strength Irish can be some of the finest whiskey you can find.

Rating: Must Try

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Redbreast 18 Year Old

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Redbreast 18 Year Old
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

46% ABV
$180-$280
Website
Redbreast 18 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

The World’s Most Awarded Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is delighted to unveil a new permanent addition to its esteemed family: Redbreast 18 Year Old. A bold expression made even more unique by the addition of cream sherry casks in the aging process.

Matured by our Master Blender in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and casks seasoned with the finest oloroso sherry, cream sherry and ruby port to elevate Redbreast’s Single Pot Still Whiskey to new heights. Bursting with berry fruit aromas, hazelnut chocolate tones, and caramelized stone fruit sweetness, our latest addition introduces a captivating array of new flavors that complement that signature Redbreast taste.

Tasting notes
The tantalizing addition of cream sherry casks from the esteemed Antonio Páez Lobato cooperage, rarely seen before in Redbreast whiskey, along with the portfolio’s more traditional cask profile, promises a tasting experience both new and familiar.

NOSE: Delectable berry fruit aromas of ripe blackcurrants and raspberries accompanied by sugar glazed cherries and dried fig. Indulgent tones of hazelnut chocolate and caramelized stone fruits with warming and fragrant notes of toasted almonds and cinnamon, nestled alongside polished oak and worn leather.
TASTE: Full-bodied and rounded, with the oak tannins complementing the decadent sweetness of sun-kissed grapes and autumnal fruits. Vibrant spices of freshly peeled ginger and hints of liquorice weave amongst the wine seasoned oak influences of dried fruits, dark berries and orange peel.
FINISH: Rich and lasting. The pot still spices, fruit and oak slowly fade harmoniously, showcasing the balance of this wonderfully complex whiskey.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich, fruit salad with pears, apples, peaches and cherries; almond biscotti and pot still spice notes.
Palate: Jammy with blackberries, raspberries and cherries; caramel glazed coffee cake, nutmeg, bit of ginger, pepper spice and a hint of grapefruit.
Finish: Moderately long with fruit notes, oak and trailing spices.
Comments: Redbreast was my first Irish whiskey crush, and the 12 year cask strength still holds a special place in my heart to this day. This is a lovely, nuanced, mature dram. While it doesn’t need any water, adding a couple of drops brought out some floral notes on the nose, and on the palate tamped down the pepper spice and ginger a bit. While I really enjoy this, I’d bet that at a higher ABV this would knock it out of the park (but if you read many of my reviews, this will not be a surprise!)

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Stoll & Wolfe Pennsylvania Pure Rye Whiskey Single Barrel Cask Strength

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Stoll & Wolfe Pennsylvania Pure Rye Whiskey
Single Barrel Cask Strength

53.5% ABV
$70
Website
Stoll & Wolfe Pennsylvania Pure Rye Whiskey Single Barrel Cask Strength
We would like to thank Stoll & Wolfe Distillery and The Whiskey Bard for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Stoll & Wolfe recently released one of its most intriguing expressions to date: a single barrel Pure Rye Rye Whiskey that acts as the distillery’s unique interpretation of the historic Monongahela style. Crafted from a 100% rye mash bill of 80% Rosen rye and 20% malted rye, this whiskey is truly a must have offering for a number of reasons.

The all rye mash bill, rooted in historic, pre-Prohibition rye traditions, draws its locally grown Rosen rye from the Kline Family Farm, a 1741 heritage farm sharing direct family ties with the distillery team. Made through a sweet mash fermentation process, the art of crafting Pure Rye calls upon carefully considered production methods emphasizing spice, structure and grain character.

“Our Single Barrel Pure Rye is our homage to the historic Monongahela style,” said Erik Wolfe, co-founder and distiller at Stoll & Wolfe, “reflecting the methods and spirit of Pennsylvania rye, with a focus on bold spice, balance, and a distinctly regional character.”

Aged for approximately 34 months in a new, charred American oak barrel built from the finest in air-dried staves, this single barrel whiskey is bottled at a cask strength 107 proof. It showcases bold rye spice balanced by dark fruit on the nose, leading to a palate rich in black cherry, cocoa, marzipan and baking spices. The finish is dry and very well structured.

Priced at $70 per 750 ml bottle, the Stoll & Wolfe Pure Rye Whiskey is available now from the Stoll & Wolfe website, or available for pickup in the distillery’s tasting room. Future releases of this whiskey will be made available down the line when the distillery team feels they are ready to bottle.

What Gary Says

Nose: Figs, grilled peaches, mint, vanilla, a hint of tarragon and cloves.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with figs, cherries, dark chocolate, pepper, cinnamon, mint, cloves, honey and vanilla.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with baking spices and cocoa.
Comments: I’ve long been a fan of 100% rye mashbills (and not a ton of them out there), but this is rather unique with 20% malted rye (not to mention the sweet mash; again – not a lot of that out in the market!) This is fruity, but not with the citrus lean that you often associate with rye. Only 34 months old, I enjoyed each sip and hope that they’re keeping some back to mature further. If you’re a rye fan, and looking for a unique pour – would recommend seeking a chance to try this!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Glengoyne 25 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Glengoyne 25 Year Old Sherry Oak
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

48% ABV
$500-600
Website
Glengoyne 25 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distillery Says

Matured exclusively in hand-selected sherry casks for a quarter of a century, this unique malt is an important addition to the Glengoyne collection. This bright amber beauty has red fruits, leather and brown sugar on the nose and soft oak, cinnamon, stewed fruits and a Seville marmalade tang on the palate. The finish is very long with spicy liquorice. The malt is presented in a new heavy bespoke bottle and outer box. The bottle features a fine metal stopper, crafted cartouche and delicately branded neck tag and is attractively displayed in an oak box interior which includes an engraved plinth. The elegant exterior has a refined feather pattern subtly varnished on the pack.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich and thick, deep fruit notes with figs, dates, apricots and raisins; soft worn leather with old books and a hint of cigar smoke.
Palate: Thick and syrupy mouthfeel, mincemeat pie with apples, figs and mandarin oranges; cinnamon, clove and a bit of anise.
Finish: Long and damp with cloves, anise, oak and a sour fruit note.
Comments: An absolute sherry bomb in all the right ways. All of the things you’d expect and hope for with 25 years in a sherried cask – that intense dark fruit flavors along with layers of complexity (not to mention a very respectable ABV). I hadn’t had a lot of Glengoyne (and in fact this is the first one I’ve reviewed on our site), but this is just a delightful and decadent offering.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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