Meeting #25 - March '26 - Henry McKenna 10, Brothership, and Redbreast 12

Our March meeting took a slight detour from our usual routine. After sitting down to a hearty helping of shepherd’s pie, we set off on our tasting journey.

We began with Henry McKenna, a classic American bourbon (with a bit of Irish heritage, as it turns out). Next came a transition sip—an American-Irish whiskey blend from Brothership—which prepared us for Ireland’s quintessential whiskey, Redbreast 12 Year.

Irish whiskey… at bourbon club?? The horror!! But hey—’tis the season. We raised our glasses to St. Paddy’s Day and happily pretended to be Irish for the evening.

So, without further ado… Sláinte!

1) Henry McKenna 10 Year (Bottled-in-Bond)

100 Proof | 10 Years | $69 (FWGS)

Mashbill: 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye

HF score: 3.35

Nose: Butterscotch, caramel, slight varnish note

Palate: Excellent flavor-to-proof balance. Caramel, cinnamon bark, and a touch of clove

Finish: Initial caramel sweetness fades into a dry, oaky mouthfeel, followed by a long-lasting cinnamon warmth

Henry McKenna, a classic Bottled-in-Bond American bourbon, is produced by the good folks at Heaven Hill. This is a solid sipper with classic bourbon notes and a very approachable price point for a single-barrel product.

Fun fact: Henry McKenna himself was an Irish immigrant who settled in Kentucky in 1838. Before arriving in the U.S., he worked as a clerk in a liquor store. After some time working on road crews, he eventually returned to the whiskey world by operating a flour mill—where he began turning leftover grain into whiskey.

2) Brothership 10-Year Bourbon

90 Proof | 10 Years | $55

Blend: 52% Irish whiskey, 48% American whiskey

HF score: 2.91

Nose: Honey, pear, floral notes

Palate: Creamy and easy-drinking, with vanilla, fruit, and bright malt

Finish: Light, fruity finish

Brothership is a joint venture between Ireland’s Connacht Whiskey Company (now Ballina Distillery) and Philadelphia’s New Liberty Distillery. The blend combines 10-year Irish and American whiskies. The Irish component contributes a light, creamy character, while the American whiskey adds depth and spice (likely from a high-rye mashbill).

It’s an interesting concept—though it may no longer be in production. Overall, it drinks more like an Irish whiskey: light in color, delicate, and full of barley-forward notes.

3) Redbreast 12 Year (Irish Single Pot Still)

80 Proof /12 Years / $79

Mashbill: Malted and unmalted barley

HF Score: 3.26

Nose: Dried fruit, sherry sweetness, vanilla, sweet toasted oak

Palate: Very mellow, with fruit and spice layered over sherry undertones

Finish: Clean and lingering, with fruit, spice, and toasted oak

Redbreast is arguably one of the finest whiskeys Ireland has to offer. It’s clean, approachable, and beautifully balanced, showcasing the classic fruity and spicy characteristics of pot still whiskey.

Irish whiskey is typically distilled multiple times, resulting in a smoother, more delicate profile compared to the boldness of American bourbon. You can even see the difference in the glass—Redbreast’s light golden hue stands in sharp contrast to the deeper color of Henry McKenna.

The barley-forward flavor can take some getting used to—especially for us bourbon drinkers. In fact, it’s so distinct that it can be challenging to describe using typical bourbon tasting notes. In a way, it’s almost like the “white wine” of the whiskey world, with its lighter body and fruit-forward character.

Thanks for tasting with us—we hope you learned a little something about Irish whiskey along the way!