Heaven’s Door Master Blenders’ Edition Redbreast Collaboration Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Produced by Heaven's Door but their straight bourbon whiskey is from an undisclosed Tennessee distillery.
• MASH BILL: Undisclosed
• AGE: 10 years
• YEAR: 2021
• PROOF: 100 Proof (50% ABV)
• MSRP: $99.99
• BUY ONLINE: ReserveBar.com

PAUL'S NOTES

NOSE: Light Caramel | Dark Brown Sugar | Shelled Peanuts | Almond Paste

TASTE: Honey | Maraschino Cherries | Walnuts | Raisin

FINISH: Drying in a good way | Short to Medium | Characteristically Dickel with a Sherry Note

SHARE WITH: This is just at home on the bar of a bourbon fan as an Irish whiskey fan. The blenders here did a good job ensuring both elements had their chance to shine.

WORTH THE PRICE: Not for $100. If you're coming to this from the world of Irish whiskey, you can get cask strength Redbreast for 20-25% less and there are loads of Bottled-in-Bond bourbon options (also 10 year, 100 proof) that are better values. I'd be more inclined to say 'yes' at a price point under $75

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Definitely worth a try at a bar, and maybe grab a bottle if you're a big Dylan fan.

OVERALL: I'm someone who likes to try new things and enjoys seeing the results of experimentation. Because of that, I very well may have been curious enough to try this even at it's steep price point had I not been sent this sample from Heaven's Door. I'm a fan of Irish Whiskey generally, and Redbreast specifically, so to see a 10-year old bourbon finished in their casks and with the collaboration of their Master Blender Billy Leighton got me excited to crack it open. I'll also give credit where its due and point out that Ryan Perry, the Master Blender at Heaven's Door also surely pulled his own weight in selecting the sourced bourbon to include in this project.

The nose and palette, while not completely remarkable, have no real flaws in them either and are a nice combination of earthy and sweet. I'm not sure this is sourced from Dickel (and I've seen statements that it is not), but it does have a characteristically Dickel (or maybe Tennessee) finish that I am generally not a huge fan of. However, combined with the drying from the oak and the characteristic sherry note of a whiskey from Redbreast, I found myself continually going back for the next sip.

The only gripe I have with this is the with the lack of value. For $100, I don't think I could rationalize the purchase for myself. It does make me much more interested in their Straight Bourbon Whiskey which is priced at a much more reasonable $50. Perhaps, as time passes and the price on bottles like this comes down, it might end up being a must-buy. For the time being, if you're a fan of experimentation and unique finishing processes, or you're a big Dylan fan, then you should consider giving it a shot if you have the coin to drop on it. If those things aren't true for you, I would definitely grab a dram at a bar when you're able, as it's a wonderful opportunity to #drinkcurious.

BRAND NOTES

HEAVEN'S DOOR MASTER BLENDERS' EDITION STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY FINISHED IN REDBREAST CASKS

• AGE: 10 years
• PROOF: 100
• TASTE: Full and complex body with notes of rich ripe fruit, red apples, figs and dates
• PALATE: Marzipan and walnut with buttery ground nut sweetness, raisin, and nougat
• FINISH: Delicate with a touch of honey and coconut and subtle sweetness from Irish honeycomb
• SIPPING SUGGESTIONS: Neat, over ice or with a splash of water
• PRICE & AVAILABILITY: The Master Blenders' Edition will be available in the U.S. in limited quantities via ReserveBar.com and at select retailers nationwide beginning May. This limited-edition whiskey has a suggested retail price (SRP) of $99.99. Once it's gone, it is gone for good.

HEAVEN'S DOOR MASTER BLENDERS' EDITION

In collaboration with Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

More than two years in the making, Perry and Leighton worked together on a multitude of blends and barrel finishes to arrive at their final whiskey profile. As a lover of Irish Whiskey, Heaven’s Door Founder, Bob Dylan, worked closely with the Master Blenders and sampled over a dozen blends before settling on the final selection. “Mr. Dylan is a perfectionist and knows his whiskey,” said Billy Leighton. “His engagement and enthusiasm for this collaboration made this project even more special.”

The Master Blenders’ Edition features Heaven’s Door 10-year aged Straight Bourbon finished in Redbreast’s signature Single Pot Still Casks for 15 months, extracting flavor from single pot Irish whiskey and formerly Spanish sherry. The end result is a taste profile unlike any American whiskey and delivers prominent notes of nuts, spice and leather, as well as the influence of sherry, citrus, dark fruit, and a subtle sweetness of Yellow Man from the Redbreast casks.

“We’re honored to have had the opportunity to work with Billy and the rest of the Redbreast team to bring ‘The Master Blenders’ Edition to life,” said Ryan Perry. “Heaven’s Door was founded around the spirit of collaboration, and this was a dream partnership for our brand. I can honestly say that the final flavor profile blew us away.”

“The Master Blenders’ Edition allows both the American and Irish Whiskey distilling traditions to shine through,” said Billy Leighton, Redbreast Irish Whiskey’s Master Blender. “We think fans of Redbreast, Heaven’s Door, and whiskey enthusiasts everywhere will be delighted with what they taste with this product.”

The Master Blenders’ Edition is offered in Heaven’s Door’s signature bottle, featuring a new gate design created by Bob Dylan in his Black Buffalo Ironworks studio, as well as Redbreast’s iconic red breasted Robin of Redbreast.

Disclaimer: Heaven's Door provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.