🥃 Redbreast 15 Year Old
The second oldest core Redbreast expression: a single pot still from Midleton, 15 years in ex-bourbon and sherry casks; 46% ABV.
Redbreast 15 Year Old is the second oldest expression in the core Redbreast range after the 12-year-old. It is an Irish single pot still from Midleton with a stated age of 15 years, bottled at 46% ABV. According to the WhiskyNotes review, the first release came out in 2005 and a new batch in December 2009.
The mash is malted and unmalted barley, distilled three times in copper pot stills. According to The Dramble, the whiskey matures in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, both first-fill and refill. Tasting Table adds that it is not chill-filtered. Compared with the 12-year-old, reviews note more spice, iris root and toasted oak.
Why this matters for you. Redbreast 15 Year Old is older and stronger than Redbreast 12 Year Old, so it is a step up without a sharp jump. Redbreast 18 Year Old adds casks that held cream sherry and port. Batches have varied, so reviewers describe the taste differently. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 46% ABV |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | 15 years |
| Cask type | ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, first-fill and refill |
| Distillation method | pot still, three times, copper stills, Midleton |
| Raw material | malted and unmalted barley; water |
| Year founded | 2005 |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Legal basis | Irish Whiskey GI (Technical File; Reg. (EU) 2019/787): Irish Pot Still Whiskey |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Redbreast 15 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oloroso, 🍷 Oak barrel, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Redbreast, 🥃 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Irish Whiskey
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Redbreast 12 Year Old, 🥃 Redbreast 12 Year Old, 🥃 Redbreast 18 Year Old, 🥃 Redbreast 18 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is Redbreast 15 a recent novelty?
No. According to WhiskyNotes, the first edition came out in 2005 and the new batch in December 2009.
What is the strength of Redbreast 15 Year Old?
46% ABV, according to The Dramble and WhiskyNotes.
What casks is Redbreast 15 aged in?
According to The Dramble, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, both first-fill and refill.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky — Malted barley is the base of whisky: malt enzymes convert starch in the mash, and EU whisky is distilled below 94.8% vol.
- 🍷 Oloroso — Dry sherry of exclusively oxidative ageing, without flor; 17–22 % vol.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength · 🥃 Redbreast 21 Year Old · 🥃 Redbreast 12 Year Old · 🥃 Redbreast 18 Year Old · 🥃 Powers John's Lane 12 Year Old · 🥃 Powers Three Swallow
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Dramble: Redbreast 15 year old (46 %; first-fill and refill ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks; triple distilled pot still; second step of the age-statement range)
- WhiskyNotes: Redbreast 15 Years (46 %; first edition 2005, new batch December 2009)
- Tasting Table: Redbreast 12 Year Old bottle guide (40 %; ex-bourbon barrels and oloroso butts; triple distilled; other expressions: 12 Cask Strength 2011, 15 Year Old 2005, 18 Year Old 2024, 21, 27)
- Revenue (Ireland): Geographical Indication for Irish Whiskey and Irish Poteen/Poitin (GI verification, Tax and Duty Manual)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)