Drink of the Week: Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 12 years old

I love pretty much every kind of whiskey, but I’ll also admit that many of the bottles out there today are loud talkers. Turn up the oak, turn up the smoke, double down on the spice, and boost the proof into rocket-fuel territory—these are the directions that so many whiskies follow. Which isn’t a knock at all, if you like that sort of thing. But every whiskey drinker needs balance in their lives, and in their glasses. Irish distillers have long proven themselves adept at turning out gentler, more nuanced whiskies. And one of the best ways to start exploring the category, and seeing what Irish whiskey can offer, is by tasting this week’s Drink of the Week: Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 12 years old.

As the name indicates, this pour is prepared entirely by pot still at the Midleton Distillery, triple distilled from a mash of malted and unmalted barley. Maturation in a combination of cooperage helps create the whiskey’s distinct profile: bourbon-seasoned American oak barrels for richness and spice, and oloroso sherry–seasoned Spanish oak butts for bright aspects of fruit and nuts. Put it all together, and you have a robust-yet-approachable whiskey that’s silky and nuanced, running a range of aromas and flavors before landing on a lingering, satisfying finish. $71.99, binnys.com