Irish Whiskey Showdown: Powers John's Lane vs. Redbreast Cask Strength

Today we compare two of the most well received Irish whiskies available in the states, Powers John's Lane and Redbreast 12 Cask Strength. Both are 12 year old single (pure) pot still whiskies made by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery. Both are matured in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks. Both are non chill filtered. With all of these similarities, I was really interested to taste them side by side.

First, a little history. Irish Distillers has a great comeback story. By the late 1960s, demand for Irish whiskey was nearly non-existent. In order to survive, the John Jameson & Son, Powers & Sons, and the Cork Distillery Co. merged in 1966 to create Irish Distillers. The old distilleries were closed and operations were consolidated a facility in Midleton (Cork County), where the New Midleton Distillery was built in 1975. The company was purchased by Pernot-Ricard in 1988. Today, Irish whiskey is the fastest growing whiskey category in the U.S. market, and Midleton produces many of the most highly regarded whiskies within that category, including Redbreast, Powers, and the Green and Yellow Spots. (Yellow Spot is not yet available in the U.S.)

The Redbreast Cask Strength and the Powers John's Lane are single pot still (f/k/a pure pot still) whiskies, meaning they are distilled from a combination of malted and unmalted barley (single malt scotch uses only malted barley) and in a copper pot still rather than a column still. The pot still is known for imparting round and creamy quality that I really enjoy.

Okay, enough history. Let's taste 'em.

Powers John's Lane

Price: $69.99
Proof: 46% ABV (92 proof)
Age: 12 years
Color: Dark Honey - slightly darker than the Redbreast, even at lower proof

Nose: Honey and green apple followed by a perfume of sherry. Underneath there are layers of oak and vanilla pipe tobacco. There are slight nail polish remover notes. 
Palate: Cream of wheat covered in honey. Toasted oak with tobacco and spice. An incredible roundness.
Finish: Slightly bitter and tannic, though the honey remains on the tongue. The nail polish remover is back.

Overall: B

Redbreast 12 year Cask Strength 

(Batch B1/12)

Price: $64.99

Proof: 58.6% ABV (117 proof)

Age: 12 years

Color: Honey

Nose:  Salted caramel-covered green apple with a scoop of bourbon-vanilla ice cream. Malt underneath it all. With some water, the sherry comes out and the caramel subsides.  Breathtaking nose.

Palate: A bit closed off at full strength but an insane buttery quality. Honey and dark fruit jam with strong oak and spice.  With a bit of water to bring it closer to the Powers' 92 proof, the sherry, green apple, and barley come out as does some bitterness from the oak. 

Finish: Sweet and spicy.  Medium length. With a little water, the finish becomes longer and warmer, though slightly more bitter.

Overall: B+

The Verdict

With all of the similarities between these two whiskies, they are completely different. The Redbreast seems to have a lot more bourbon influence, which is probably why it is my favorite. The Powers picks up more sherry.  They both have that rich and unctuous quality from the pot still, but both have some bitterness. For my money, I'd take the Redbreast every day of the week.

Sláinte