Our past will always be a point of pride

Built on a loyal following of ‘those in the know’, today Redbreast is the largest selling Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey in the world, and is considered the definitive expression of the traditional Irish spirit.

Successful from the start

W & A Gilbey was founded in 1857 and began in small basement cellars at the corner of Oxford Street and Berwick Street in London.  The British Prime Minister Gladstone reduced duty on French wines from 12 shillings to 2 shillings. Gilbeys were successful from the start and, within a couple of years, had branches in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh.

Redbreast is Triple Distilled

Throughout the entire distillation, the master distiller at Midleton Distillery, Brian Nation, will carefully control every step of the process. The first alcohols and flavour compounds to come from the stills are very high in esters which contribute to the fragrant, floral and spicy characteristics of a spirit.

The Benefits of Copper Stills

Copper plays a vital role in pot still distillation apart from its excellent heat conduction. The production of esters in distillation can include highly volatile and pungent sulphur compounds that are undesirable. The copper has a chemical reaction with sulphur to form copper sulfate which remains behind in the still. The longer the contact time between the spirit and the copper, the lighter the spirit will be in style.

A Living Legacy

Single Pot Still Whiskey has been safeguarded and nurtured under the watchful eye of the Midleton Distillery for almost two hundred years. And Redbreast is proudly considered the definitive expression of this Single Pot Still art. For more than a century Redbreast has stayed true to the Irish Pot Still whiskey-making tradition. Today it is considered to be the definitive expression of this quintessential style of Irish whiskey making - a living legacy.