One of the most eagerly anticipated whiskey releases of the year has just been announced, and as usual it sounds like a stunner.
The fourth release in the exceptional Redbreast Dream Cask collection is taking flight to mark World Whisky Day 2021. Hand-selected by Master Blender Billy Leighton, Redbreast Dream Cask Oloroso Sherry Edition will be available in limited quantities exclusively via Redbreast’s private members’ club, The Birdhouse.
With only 924 bottles available, Redbreast are dealing with the massive demand by following the same procedure as last year and allowing would-be buyers to enter a ballot for the chance to buy a 500ml bottle for €520.
When preparing this fourth release, Leighton and Blender Dave McCabe vatted together four special whiskeys, aged for a minimum of 29 years in ex-bourbon, sherry and ruby port seasoned casks.
These whiskeys were then married in a single outstanding Oloroso sherry butt from Jerez de la Frontera in Spain’s Andalusia region, and left to mature for a further 15 months.
The extended finishing time of this year's Dream Cask enables the individual wood contributions to come together and take on a wide spectrum of mellow fruit flavours and pot still spices. The result is a luxuriously rich Irish whiskey with notes of dried fruits, herbs and toasted oak and a complex aroma of liquorice, leather and nutmeg reminiscent of Andalusian bodegas.
With an ABV of 51.2%, this rare bottling has notes of dark brown sugar, succulent berries and vanilla perfectly off-setting Redbreast’s trademark spices.
Master Blender Billy Leighton explains, “There is no greater joy in my job than to come across an excellent cask while conducting a sensory assessment of our whiskeys. It is from four such outstanding casks that this year’s Redbreast Dream Cask was born. To craft the 2021 expression, we experimented with new ways of vatting, marrying and finishing to create something greater than the sum of its parts and we are delighted with the result.
“Redbreast Dream Cask Oloroso Sherry Edition is undeniably special and yet unmistakably Redbreast and we are honoured to pass it on to our Birdhouse members.”
Blender Dave McCabe adds, “The liquorice aromas from the Redbreast Dream Cask Oloroso Sherry Edition instantly transport us to the bodegas of Jerez, celebrating Redbreast’s relationship with the region for over three decades. Sherry seasoned casks have been at the heart of Redbreast Irish Whiskey since its resurrection in 1991 and we are thrilled that this year’s Dream Cask could pay homage to that iconic relationship.”
Launching for World Whisky Day, 924 bottles of Redbreast Dream Cask Oloroso Sherry Edition will be available exclusively through an online ballot hosted on The Birdhouse.
The ballot will be live from 17th to 25th May when successful participants will be given an opportunity to purchase a 500ml bottle for €520.
