Originally produced exclusively by the Mitchell family, the story of Red Spot begins in 1805 when Mitchell & Son opened their business on Grafton Street in Dublin as purveyors of confectionery, wines and fortified wines. In 1887 the family expanded into the whiskey bonding trade, maturing casks beneath the cobbled streets of Dublin where the city’s cool conditions provided the perfect environment for long-term ageing.

The name “Spot” originated from the family’s practice of marking casks of different ages with a spot of coloured paint. Over time this created a range of distinctive whiskeys including Blue Spot, Green Spot, Yellow Spot and Red Spot. Today these historic bonded whiskeys remain an important part of Ireland’s whiskey heritage.

Red Spot 15 Year Old represents the richest and most complex expression in the Spot family. Matured for at least fifteen years in a unique combination of American bourbon casks, Spanish sherry butts and Sicilian Marsala wine casks, the whiskey displays remarkable depth, structure and balance.

In 2026 Red Spot was awarded Best Irish Pot Still Whiskey at the World Whiskies Awards Ireland, a major international recognition of the quality and character of this historic whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Nose
Pot still spices with rich cooked fruit, baked apple, mango and black cherry. Hazelnut and a touch of new leather fuse with toasted American oak.

Taste
Ripe fruit sweetness from the Marsala seasoned casks leads into sweet red pepper, cracked black pepper and warming pot still spice, supported by notes of American oak and malted barley.

Finish
Long and lingering, with a persistent infusion of fruit, spice and gentle oak.

With a distilling history dating back to the 19th century, Midleton’s renowned bounty has been said to have drawn whiskey into being.

From its beginnings on the banks of the crystalline Dungourney River, Midleton Distillery’s links with the land run deep and long.

Of course whiskey is also the lifeblood of a people and their aspirations. And this town has always been a pioneering community, from the moment the Murphy family started to distil here in 1825.