Redbreast Single Pot Still

Redbreast Single Pot Still is an Irish whiskey, and the category tells you a lot. Single pot still is a style unique to Ireland. The mash combines malted and unmalted barley, distilled in copper pot stills at a single distillery. That unmalted barley is why the style tends to taste different from malt-only Scotch or the lighter, grain-driven Irish blends. Expect a creamy, oily texture with a peppery, spicy edge. Bottlings like this usually also lean toward baked fruit, toasted oak, and a little vanilla. The details supplied here don't list an age statement, ABV or cask information, so check the label for those. Take it neat first. Pour a small measure into a Glencairn glass and let it sit for a minute before you nose it. The tapered bowl gathers the spice and fruit aromas that a wide tumbler lets escape. Then add a few drops of room-temperature water, which often loosens the grain and softens the pepper, so the fruit and vanilla come forward. Pot still whiskey has enough body that it generally holds up well to this. Ice is a matter of taste, though. A single large cube in a rocks glass slows the dilution and takes the edge off the spice, but it also mutes the aromas, so it suits a relaxed drink better than a close tasting. In cocktails, the richer texture is an advantage. An Old Fashioned is a good fit: a sugar cube or small spoon of syrup, two dashes of Angostura bitters and an orange peel. Stir it over ice and the whiskey's spice stands up to the bitters without needing extra sweetness. A Manhattan with sweet vermouth works too, though the pepper and fruit will show through more than they would with a rye, so use a restrained vermouth. For a Whiskey Sour, shake with fresh lemon and syrup. The creamy body gives a rounded drink with a softer bite than most bourbon sours. A highball with cold soda water and a lemon twist is the lightest option. Pour it over plenty of ice and let the spice and fruit carry the drink. For food, a plate of aged cheddar or a simple dark chocolate square are straightforward matches. The spiced fruit notes also go well with roasted nuts or apple-based desserts.