Redbreast reveals Dream Cask

Irish Distillers has announced the release of Redbreast Dream Cask from its Midleton Distillery.

The release will be available through its online members' club, The Birdhouse from World Whisky Day, Saturday 19 May. 

Irish Distillers claims that the release follows requests from consumers and whiskey experts over the past 12 months, and is set to become the first in a new series planned for the coming years.

Redbreast Dream Cask is a limited edition, 32 Years Old single pot still Irish whiskey – a single cask that was selected last year by master blender, Billy Leighton, as his favourite Redbreast whiskey. The cask was chosen for having the perfect balance of pot still, Spanish oak and sherry flavours, which can usually only be achieved through blending – bringing to life Redbreast’s signature sherry style.

The whiskey was originally unveiled during a Facebook LIVE tasting to mark Redbreast’s World Whisky Day 2017 celebrations.

Redbreast master blender, Billy Leighton, comments: “In almost 40 years as a blender, Redbreast Dream Cask is a real highlight as I am able to select my own, personal dream Irish whiskey and share it with the world. Our inaugural tasting in 2017 was by far the largest whiskey tasting I have ever held, and the feedback we have received from the whiskey community on the liquid has been phenomenal, so it’s an honour to see it bottled to mark World Whisky Day 2018 – and watch this space for our 2019 plans.”

The original date of bonding goes back to 31 October 1985, with single pot still Irish whiskey filled into re-fill American Oak ex-Bourbon barrels. Then, on 8 March 2011, the whiskey was re-casked into a first-fill Oloroso Sherry-seasoned butt.

Redbreast Dream Cask is bottled without the use of chill-filtration at 46.5% ABV and is available in very limited quantities through Redbreast’s online private members’ club, The Birdhouse, for €500 per 50cl bottle.

Brendan Buckley, Strategy, Insight, Innovation & Prestige Whiskeys director at Irish Distillers, adds: “What started out as a celebration of Redbreast on World Whisky Day has developed into the release of a limited edition directly requested by Redbreast fans. We didn’t know it then, but World Whisky Day 2017 was just the beginning for Redbreast Dream Cask and we look forward to what Billy Leighton, and his apprentice Dave McCabe, will find in our Midleton warehouses in the years to come.”

8 May 2018 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor