Ireland in the Glass: Discovering Redbreast Through the Túath

Monica recently returned from Ireland and gifted me a new whiskey glass I'd never seen before. It’s called a Túath (pronounced tu-ah) glass. It’s a glass that was made in Ireland for Irish whiskey. Well, I think any whiskey would be great in this glass, especially high-proof expressions. I always like to look for new whiskey experiences, and Monica most certainly found one! This glass is so well thought out and is inspired by science, art, and geography. 

Rosi Goswell, a chemist and former pharmaceutical employee, was one of the lead designers. She, along with a spirits glassware designer, wanted to help celebrate the resurgence of Irish whiskey with a new glass. Released in 2017, the crystal glass has a larger bowl than a Glencairn, a tall shape, and a flare to help reduce ethanol burn (the alcohol burn you may experience when smelling a whiskey). Rosi was also thoughtful enough to make the rim large enough to fit an ice cube easily. I’m with Rosi on this one. Don’t let anyone tell you how to drink your whiskey. If you like ice, add it. If you like a bit of water, add it. If you like it neat, drink only the whiskey. I also love Rosi’s intention of making the bowl big enough, not just to be able to add ice or water, but also to be able to accommodate a larger home pour (Me?! Noooo.) and still give you enough room to swirl your whiskey and let it open up to the flared rim so you truly have a wonderful experience, even when only smelling the whiskey. 

The next unique characteristic of this glass is the stem. The stem is inspired by Skellig Michael, a rock island off the coast of County Kerry. You may recognize it if you’re a Star Wars fan. It has a flat section for your thumb to help with control when swirling and to avoid smudges on the bowl, so you can admire the whiskey's color. It can also lie on its side for perfect pouring and still allow enough space for the whiskey to open up for a wonderful nosing and tasting experience.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out this video from the Barrel Room Chronicles featuring an interview with Ms. Goswell.

Oh, Monica also gifted me a wonderful Redbreast Sampler. So, what a great way to try out my new Túath glass! She brought me the Family Collection, which consists of their 12-year-old aged whiskey. Their Lustau edition is finished in Sherry Casks and aged a total of 9-12 years. Then, their 15-year-old whiskey. 

If you haven’t had Redbreast before, I highly recommend it. They do wonderful work, and their whiskeys are round, balanced, and complex. I have tried the 12-year and the Lustau edition but never the 15-year. The 15-year was a great experience in the Túath. Berries, then earthiness and floral notes on the nose. On the palate, I got plum, honey, floral, and oak notes, with a lingering finish of sweet spice.

Redbreast is a whiskey that brings history into a new glass. Redbreast started with a wine and spirits merchant, W & A Gilbey, which explains the sherry tie-in with the Lustau. At first, Gilbey bought whiskey from John Jameson and Sons, then used his own readily available sherry casks to mature it. We’re talking late 1800s. Also, the name Redbreast first appeared in the early 1900s, referring to the Robin Redbreast, and is traditionally credited to Gilbey's chairman, an avid bird enthusiast.

The Túath glass truly brings the experience to the forefront. I could swirl it without issue. It’s also left-handed-friendly, which is thoughtful and typically something you don’t see unless you frequent Ned Flanders’ Leftorium (to all my Simpsons fans out there 🙂). I also tried a pour on its side, and it was so fun to try something new. Again, I always love a new experience, and I can’t wait to try this glass with more Irish and higher-proof whiskey.

Cheers,