whiskey

Irish whiskey was once the most popular category in America, until Prohibition came along and completely disrupted the whiskey industry on both sides of the Atlantic. In recent years, predictions have been made that Irish whiskey could dominate the domestic market once again—that has not exactly happened, but brands like Jameson and Tullmore DEW continue to be bestsellers, and the number of distilleries in Ireland has grown from four to 40 since 2010. One of the stalwarts of Irish whiskey is Redbreast, a single pot still brand made at the same distillery where Jameson is produced, and the latest release is a tribute to the shared history between America and Ireland.

Single pot still is a distinctly Irish category that has a few rules: The whiskey must be made from a mashbill of malted and unmalted barley (up to 5 percent of other grains are allowed), and distilled in pot stills at one distillery. In this case, the distillery is Midleton just outside of Cork, where Jameson, Powers, Midleton Very Rare, and Green Spot (and the other Spots) are also made. In my opinion, and I’m certainly not alone in this, Redbreast is the best whiskey made at this massive distillery. The whiskey is matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks and released with 12, 15, 21, and 27-year age statements (the latter includes whiskey aged in port pipes).

Then there are special releases, like the American Oak Series which launched in 2022 with Kentucky Oak Edition. Missouri Oak is the new entry in that series, a single pot still whiskey initially aged in bourbon and sherry barrels like the rest of the range, and then finished for 12 months in virgin charred Missouri oak barrels, made from trees growing in the Ozark Forest, and assembled by Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky. As you likely know, virgin charred oak barrels are used to mature bourbon, and are then sent to countries like Ireland to be used several times over again to age their whiskey. Virgin oak has a much more powerful influence on whiskey than used oak, for obvious reasons—new oak is going to add a lot more flavor to a spirit than a barrel that has matured whiskey for years or decades before.

That is the case here, although clearly master blender Dave McCabe paid careful attention during the maturation period to make sure the whiskey did not go overboard. This is a big, bold beast of a Redbreast whiskey, with the core identity remaining intact but augmented by a range of different flavors. There is a bit of dusty apple and leather on the nose, with almost a cider-like quality to it. The vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar notes from the bourbon barrels and dried fruit and spice notes from the sherry casks are all there on the palate. But there’s an intensity of flavor wrapped around that, with notes of smoky oak, a touch of tannic bitterness, roasted espresso bean, and some black pepper. This is a really interesting and tasty version of Redbreast that stands out from the rest, and almost reminds me of double-barreled American whiskeys from brands like Woodford Reserve, Kentucky Peerless, or Noble Oak.

For more information please visit https://www.redbreastwhiskey.com/en-us/

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Heaven Hill Distillery has released Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523, the second installment in the 2023 lineup of its award-winning cask-strength bourbon series. Bottled at 11 years and 5 months, this May 2023 batch delivers bold earthiness, dark chocolate, and rich oak in a non-chill-filtered, uncut expression.

What Does “B523” Mean?
Every Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release follows a clear naming convention:

B = Second batch of the year (following A, B, C sequence)
5 = Month of release (May)
23 = Year (2023)

This batch, B523, is aged 11 years and 5 months — reflecting the youngest barrel in the blend — and is bottled straight from the barrel without chill filtration or added water.

Flavor Profile: Earthy, Chocolatey, and Full-Bodied
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is known for two flavor extremes:

“Candy bombs” — sweet, confectionary-driven (e.g., A122)
Earthy & chocolate-forward — robust and oaky (e.g., C922)

B523 falls firmly in the latter camp, offering:
Deep dark chocolate and earthiness
A backbone of generous heat and rich oak
Thick, coating texture on the palate
A long finish with char, cocoa, and lingering warmth

New Labeling & Aging Transparency
Starting with B523, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof now features:
Monthly age statements (e.g., 11 years, 5 months) prominently on the front label
Small-batch blending with unique age, proof, and flavor profiles per release

All other hallmarks remain unchanged: uncut, non-chill-filtered, and bottled at barrel proof.
Expert-Led Batch Selection

Each release is crafted by Heaven Hill’s tasting panel, including:
Connor O’Driscoll, Master Distiller
Tawnie Gootee, Master Taster
Chris Briney, VP of New Product Development and Quality Assurance

Price & Availability
Suggested Retail Price: $69.99 (750ml)
Available nationwide in limited quantities

11th Year of the Series
B523 follows Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 (January 2023), marking the continued evolution of one of bourbon’s most celebrated cask-strength programs.

For more information, visit elijahcraig.com or follow @ElijahCraig on social media.

In the series, this follows Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123, which marked the beginning of the eleventh year of this popular cask-strength line.

For more information please visit https://elijahcraig.com/barrel-proof