Comments on: Irish whiskey news on Jameson, Redbreast, Powers and Paddy

By: Mike S

Mike S — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:57:35 +0000

I just got confirmation emails from Pernod and the local Chicago distributor that Paddy is on the way early-mid February. Both confirmed “limited time,” unfortunately. Though it still beats bugging friends to haul some back from duty free.

By: Mike G.

Mike G. — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:59:16 +0000

John,

What are your thoughts around Michael Collins Blend…recently disccovered with 1,000 of my closest Irish friends in Chicago at a Christmas party. It was very smooth and a nice change of pace to Bourbons.

Thoughts?

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:41:34 +0000

Yeah, it’s nice that the U.S. is actually getting some of these delicious Irish whiskeys. Sometimes it takes SO LONG for whiskeys to make their way to the U.S.

By: Dutch

Dutch — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:21 +0000

Looking forward to trying the Redbreast 15, the Redbreast 12YO is my drink of choice. And the timing on the Powers 12YO is great as I just finished my last bottle that I brought home in ’07.
The Jameson RVR is a wonderful dram, but dollar for dollar I’ll stick with RB 12YO as I can get 6 of those for the price of one RVR.

By: IrishWhiskeyChaser

IrishWhiskeyChaser — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:59:41 +0000

Great news you you guys in the States. Hopefully the RB 15yo will go down a treat. Since it’s release we’ve been crying for it to be made generally available and not a limited edition. Maybe this will come to pass if enough is sold on a more regular basis. Jim Murray has rated the 2009 Redbreast 12yo as the best Irish of the year also.

Have to concur that Powers gold 12yo is a cracked too.

Lastly, I know kallaskander is not one for stories but is this part of the growing Redbreast 15yo myth. I’d have to wonder whether a company the size of IDL would make such a glaring mistake. And what was re-released did not seem big enough for a shipment to the states.

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:02:42 +0000

Yes, Steve, the bottom line here is that this is great news!

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:15:24 +0000

John,

Welcome news all round. I stand a good chance of seeing, buying, and tasting the Redbreast 15yo, a superior whiskey soon to be again in reach (both financially and geographically) of the regular whiskey enthusiast. My local watering hole had some but sold out before I got a taste. I’m happy to hear we may have a second chance.

This beats hearing about some new bottling of an obscure, ancient, pricey unicorn of a whisky we’ll never actually taste.

Thanks,
Steve

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:21:22 +0000

The skulduggery re availablity of Redbreast 15 Year Old continues…

I’m just happy to have two unopened bottles stashed.

By: kallaskander

kallaskander — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:58:01 +0000

Hi there,

I have an inside story for you folks. In Ireland there were waiting a few crates with Redbreast 15 to be shipped tom the US. But America did not call for a long time. When the call finally came the Irish opened their warehouse to send the consignment on the way. But wait what is this? The bottles are 700ml! We can not send those to the US. So the Redbrast 15 bottled in 2005 was reintruduced in the European market for a short time it is gone already.

But Irish Distillers agreed to fill a new batch into 750ml bottles for the US and the rest of the world gets a chance to sample that second redbreast 15, too.
In 700ml bottles again.

So I was told.

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:26:43 +0000

That’s right Luke, my Redbreast 15 is 46% ABV. Sorry for the confusion Red.

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:22:38 +0000

John, don’t open your remaining bottle until you have at least two more on your hands!

Red, Redbreast 15 Year Old is due back on Irish shelves in February 2010 (according to the grapevine). As before it will be 46%ABV and Non-Chill-Filtered. We can only dream of a cask strength…

Re Powers 12, you’re in for a treat – a really solid backbone of Pot Still in this blend.

BTW, Powers Gold Label (not the 12 Year old), due to its high pot still content, THE best whiskey for a Hot Irish or Irish Whiskey.

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:29:04 +0000

Red, I didn’t ask about ABV. I am assuming it is standard strength.

By: Red_Arremer

Red_Arremer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:25:13 +0000

Is the Redbreast 15 that’s coming here going to be cask strength? Thought I saw something on this blog about that a while ago.

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:11:31 +0000

I actually got ambitious this morning and took pictures of my Powers 12 and Redbreast 15 from my own stash so you can see what the bottles look like.

And now that I know both will be coming to the U.S. next year, don’t expect these two bottles to remain unopened too much longer.