Redbreast Irish Whiskey has looked to the fortified wine traditions of southern Spain, for the fifth release in its Iberian Series, the Moscatel Wine Cask Edition.
For more than a century, Redbreast has been closely associated with the single pot still tradition, a style that defines much of Irish whiskey’s historic identity. Produced at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Redbreast has built its reputation on full-bodied spirit, long maturation and a longstanding relationship with sherry and fortified wine casks.
In recent years, that heritage has been explored through the Iberian Series, a sequence of limited releases that explore the influence of Iberian wine casks on the whiskey’s character.
The new Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is the fifth expression in that series and the first to use Moscatel wine casks from Málaga in southern Spain. It’s been created by Master Blender David McCabe in partnership with the historic Málaga producer Bodegas Quitapenas, a family-run bodega founded in 1880 and now led by fifth-generation custodians Marta Suárez Prieto and Víctor Suárez Onrubia.
The whiskey was first matured in a combination of ex-American and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, before spending a final 16 months in Moscatel-seasoned European oak hogsheads.
Prepared in Málaga, these were seasoned with Moscatel wine for two years before being shipped to Ireland and filled with a bespoke batch of Redbreast single pot still spirit.
Bottled at 46% ABV, the expression is a more citrus-led, Mediterranean-influenced interpretation of the Iberian Series style.
McCabe describes the release as a continuation of Redbreast’s historic ties with fortified wines and a modern exploration of flavour, shaped by long-standing relationships with Iberian winemakers and coopers built up over decades.
“The use of Spanish Moscatel–seasoned casks is a tribute to Redbreast’s historic ties to sherry and fortified wines, and our appreciation for the incredible people across the region, including Marta and her family at Bodegas Quitapenas, which was founded in 1880. Their remarkable family heritage inspired the richness and depth of this expression.”
The expression is positioned as a more citrus-led, Mediterranean-influenced interpretation of the Iberian Series style…
According to the distillery, this new release opens with fresh, sweet tangerine and twisted orange peel. These citrus notes are supported by delicate herbal tones of chamomile tea, with nutmeg and cedarwood adding aromatic depth.
The wine-seasoned oak contributes vanilla, floral honey and sugar-glazed nuts, while the signature pot still spices bring background notes of black peppercorn and clove. The overall profile is described as elegant, bright and distinctly Mediterranean in character, while retaining the underlying richness associated with Redbreast.
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The Luxe Review 
Redbreast Irish Whiskey has looked to the fortified wine traditions of southern Spain, for the fifth release in its Iberian Series, the Moscatel Wine Cask Edition.
For more than a century, Redbreast has been closely associated with the single pot still tradition, a style that defines much of Irish whiskey’s historic identity. Produced at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Redbreast has built its reputation on full-bodied spirit, long maturation and a longstanding relationship with sherry and fortified wine casks.
In recent years, that heritage has been explored through the Iberian Series, a sequence of limited releases that explore the influence of Iberian wine casks on the whiskey’s character.
The new Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is the fifth expression in that series and the first to use Moscatel wine casks from Málaga in southern Spain. It’s been created by Master Blender David McCabe in partnership with the historic Málaga producer Bodegas Quitapenas, a family-run bodega founded in 1880 and now led by fifth-generation custodians Marta Suárez Prieto and Víctor Suárez Onrubia.
The whiskey was first matured in a combination of ex-American and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, before spending a final 16 months in Moscatel-seasoned European oak hogsheads.
Prepared in Málaga, these were seasoned with Moscatel wine for two years before being shipped to Ireland and filled with a bespoke batch of Redbreast single pot still spirit.
Bottled at 46% ABV, the expression is a more citrus-led, Mediterranean-influenced interpretation of the Iberian Series style.
McCabe describes the release as a continuation of Redbreast’s historic ties with fortified wines and a modern exploration of flavour, shaped by long-standing relationships with Iberian winemakers and coopers built up over decades.
“The use of Spanish Moscatel–seasoned casks is a tribute to Redbreast’s historic ties to sherry and fortified wines, and our appreciation for the incredible people across the region, including Marta and her family at Bodegas Quitapenas, which was founded in 1880. Their remarkable family heritage inspired the richness and depth of this expression.”
Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition tasting notes
According to the distillery, this new release opens with fresh, sweet tangerine and twisted orange peel. These citrus notes are supported by delicate herbal tones of chamomile tea, with nutmeg and cedarwood adding aromatic depth.
The wine-seasoned oak contributes vanilla, floral honey and sugar-glazed nuts, while the signature pot still spices bring background notes of black peppercorn and clove. The overall profile is described as elegant, bright and distinctly Mediterranean in character, while retaining the underlying richness associated with Redbreast.
Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is available now from The Whisky Exchange, priced at £83.95.
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