2023 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 21

Thursday! And the holiday weekend has started for me ... no work until Wednesday, woo! Tonight, drinking Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, American Oak Series, 50.5% ABV. This one starts off like many Redbreasts do... triple distilled, matured in ex-bourbon and Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks, then finished in new Kentucky Oak barrels. How much difference will this make, time to find out.

On the nose, I get floral, apple, malt, sweet cream frosting, brown sugar and some wood. The taste... cereal, malt, oak, sweetness, honey, and a little pepper in the back. The finish is oak, honey and a touch of mint freshness.

With water, this seems better balanced. I can't place my finger on it exactly, but it is more enjoyable. The nose is more floral along with the sweet cream frosting, the taste is more honey sweet, and the finish improves overall. I tasted this next to a Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength I had (batch B2/19) and I do prefer the 12 Year Cask Strength over this one. It's close though, but since the American Oak Series is a limited edition, it does cost more ($110 vs $100 currently in Oregon) and can be harder to find. I will likely not hunt for another one anytime soon (: Still, this is good, and I'll rate it 3.75/5.0