Redbreast has long been one of those names that commands respect in Irish whiskey circles, and the PX Edition is a release that shows exactly why. This is a single pot still Irish whiskey finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at a very respectable 46% ABV with no age statement. At £85.95, it sits in that mid-premium bracket where you genuinely need to deliver something memorable — and I think this one does.
For anyone unfamiliar with the term, PX refers to Pedro Ximénez — a grape variety used to produce intensely sweet, dark sherry. When you finish whiskey in casks that previously held PX sherry, you're inviting a wave of dried fruit sweetness and richness into the spirit. Combined with the signature pot still spice that Redbreast is known for, you get a whiskey that walks an interesting line between indulgent and structured.
What to Expect
Single pot still is a style unique to Ireland. It uses a mix of malted and unmalted barley in a pot still, which gives you that characteristic oily, creamy texture with a peppery backbone. That's the foundation here. The PX cask finish layers on top of that — think dark fruit, Christmas cake territory, with a sherry-driven sweetness that rounds everything out. At 46% and non-chill filtered (as is standard for Redbreast at this strength), you're getting the whiskey with its full body intact. No corners cut.
The NAS designation might give some pause, but honestly, Redbreast has earned enough trust that I'm not too fussed about a number on the label. What matters is what's in the glass, and this drinks with a maturity and confidence that suggests a well-managed vatting of different aged stocks.
The Verdict
I'm giving the Redbreast PX Edition a 7.6 out of 10. It's a genuinely enjoyable whiskey that does what it sets out to do — marry pot still character with PX sherry influence — and does it well. The 46% ABV is the sweet spot for this style: enough strength to carry the flavour without any harsh edges. It's approachable enough for someone exploring Irish whiskey beyond the entry-level bottles, but it has enough depth to keep an experienced drinker interested.
Where it loses half a mark for me is the price. At £85.95, you're entering territory where the competition gets fierce — there are excellent sherry-influenced whiskeys from Scotland and well-aged Irish options at similar money. But as a showcase of what the PX finish can do to pot still whiskey, this is hard to argue with. It's a crowd-pleaser in the best sense.
Best Served
Neat, in a Glencairn or tulip glass, with a few drops of water if you want to open it up. The 46% strength means it doesn't need much help. That said, this whiskey makes an absolutely brilliant base for a winter Old Fashioned — a barspoon of demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura, and an orange peel expressed over the top. The PX sweetness plays beautifully with the demerara, and you end up with something rich and warming without needing to add much sugar at all. I've served this combination to guests who don't usually drink whiskey neat, and it converts people every time.
