Review #549 - Redbreast 27 Year
The pinnacle of the Redbreast whisky range: Redbreast 27 Year, a high-aged single pot still Irish whisky which has been triple distilled. This 27 year old whisky is released in batches - 6 batches, at the time of writing, released between 2019 and 2025 - at cask strength, which generally fluctuates between 53% ABV and 56% ABV.
The cask makeup chosen for this whisky is a combination of the usual ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks that we see in most other Redbreast bottlings, as well as a new addition: Ruby Port casks. Because of the cask types, we're looking at potentially a very fruity whisky - sweet fruits could nicely balance the oak influence from the longer maturation period. This batch, Batch 2, was released in 2019, and it sports a bottling strength of 53.5% ABV.
Redbreast 27 Year Batch 2
Ireland - Single Pot Still
Price: USD 480 (2025, based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: 27 Years
Strength: 53.5% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and Ruby Port casks
Details: Batch 2, bottled 2019
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Creamy grain and musty wood to start, followed by an explosion of fruit: orange, grapefruit, sweet cranberry, plums and nectarines. Vanilla and clove add a baking side; leather builds in strength from the oak, and there's a soft musty perfume note, too. Quite deep and nuanced; at the end, it's orange seeds and candy peach rings.
Palate: Medium-thick, and wow, there is an amazingly rich peach note up front - again the candied peach rings, both sugary and tart, a bit tropical with more stone fruit, too. Mango coated with chili powder, quite oily, and the oak, which started subtle, builds over time - more tannins, the rich leather notes return from the nose. Hints of banana and cinnamon linger at the back of the palate.
Finish: Stone fruit again - peach syrup, lots of yellow and orange fruit. Oak is still there but never becomes overwhelming or too dry; there's a nice polished wood note in the background. Hints of creamy grain and brown sugar linger in the aftertaste, and it's a medium length finish.
Final Note: Amazing whisky - we're so glad they left this at cask strength. The flavors are so deep and rich, and the texture is excellent, both from the higher strength and the long-term impact of wood interaction. Tons of different fruits can be found, especially those in the sweet, tropical spectrum - lots of peach for us, especially.
Value, on the other hand, isn't great. Of course, being one of the oldest whiskies from its country on the market, it's likely to command a high price; here in the US, once Redbreast 27 Year gets through the importation, distribution, and retail process, the price is now a ridiculous $1,000+. At auction, you can still find it closer to $500, but even then, value isn't great.
Our Average Rating: 9.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 4.32
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
