One of the Best Irish Whiskey Brands Just Dropped Its Oldest Whiskey Ever
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If you’re a fan of Irish whiskey, you’re surely familiar with the Midleton Distillery just outside of Cork, where many popular Irish whiskey brands are produced including Jameson, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, and the Spot Whiskeys. The latter’s portfolio just expanded with the announcement that the oldest Red Spot release to date is available to purchase now, exclusively from whiskey specialist website the Whisky Exchange.
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It makes sense that this whiskey would be exclusive to the Whisky Exchange—it was acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2021, the same drinks company that owns Irish Distillers which in turn owns the Midleton Distillery and produces the aforementioned Irish whiskey brands. According to a rep for The Whisky Exchange, this Red Spot release is the first single-cask expression from the brand, and the oldest to date at 31 years old. It was distilled and matured entirely at Midleton, first in bourbon and sherry barrels before being finished in a Marsala wine cask. This makes it very different from the core Red Spot expression, a single pot still Irish whiskey aged in a combination of bourbon, sherry, and Marsala casks for 15 years.
“In our continued exploration of the Mitchell & Sons Spot series, we’re delighted to introduce our latest single cask exclusive, this time under the Red Spot label,” said Whisky Exchange label and brand product manager Chris Bolton in a statement. “Distilled back in 1991 and aged for 31 years, this wonderfully complex whiskey was finished in a Marsala cask before bottling. Given that only three distilleries were operating in Ireland when it was distilled, it’s safe to say casks of this age and profile are becoming exceptionally hard to find.” Official tasting notes describe fresh fruit like apricots, peaches, plum, and blackcurrant on the palate, with soft tannins and herbs on the finish.
This Red Spot release follows last spring’s release of a 13-year-old Gold Spot expression called Generations Edition, initially aged in bourbon and sherry casks before being finished in Valpolicella Classica wine barrels for an additional 16 months. And back in January the Whisky Exchange released a 1999 vintage of Yellow Spot that was aged for 23 years in three different barrel types: bourbon, sherry, and Malaga wine. There is also an American whiskey exclusive available at the Whisky Exchange this month, a single barrel rye from Kentucky distillery New Riff, and in August the website will offer a 10-year-old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon. You can purchase the Red Spot Irish whiskey ($1,032) from the Whisky Exchange now.
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