Redbreast Irish Whiskey, created by Irish Distillers at Midleton Distillery, unveiled a dedicated whiskey collection for the United States, with the first batch being Redbreast Kentucky Oak. The American Oak series celebrates the influential and integral role of native wood in the production Redbreast whiskey, giving provenance to the wood and unique American Oak influences to the whiskey.

The first limited release in the series, Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition, is made from malted and unmalted barley, triple distilled in copper pot stills and matured in American Oak Bourbon barrels and Spanish Oloroso sherry butts, before being finished for a period of 3 to 7 months in naturally air-dried PEFC certified American White Oak sourced from the Taylor Family’s Elk Cave Farm in Kentucky. These casks have been hand selected for finishing, using the best quality white oak, to impart additional sweet notes of vanilla and elevated wood spices.

Seeking the best quality barrels, Master Blender Billy Leighton and the team at Midleton Distillery partnered with the owners of Elk Cave Farm, Clifton and sons Scott and Steve Taylor, to source high grade white oak from their 1,300-acre tree farm. As environmentalists, the Taylor family have championed sustainable farming practices since purchasing the land in 1959 and today are recognized across the country for the award-winning methods used on their farm. Under the Taylor family’s guardianship, Elk Cave Farm has become renowned for successfully applying the oak shelterwood system in their mature oak forests.

Shelterwood, a forestry technique that emphasizes early tending of young oak seedlings by improving forest light conditions and reducing competitors, has proven successful in the Taylors’ mission to sustainably manage their oak forests. In addition, these productive oak forests will provide valuable wildlife habitat, clean water and fresh air today and for future generations.  

Once felled, sawn and air dried, the oak was worked into 63 casks and shipped to Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork, to be filled with a bespoke batch of Redbreast whiskey. Leighton and his team diligently monitored the barrels until the perfect balance of flavour, aroma and wood contribution had been achieved. 

Bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), Redbreast Kentucky Oak will be exclusively available in the US from June 23^rd at an SRP of $95.99. For more information, and selected retailers, visit the Redbreast website: www.redbreastwhiskey.com.