12 CS is a mainstay 100%. I'm not like 'it has to be super high proof' as long as it isn't watered down to be as cheap as it can be, but the Redbreast 12 leaves a bit to be desired when you know the 12 CS exists.
The spots are great. Spots and Redbreasts are both middleton products, both made in the same distillery just a bit differently and finished differently. Green spot and redbreast 12 are both great ways to wander into pot still irish whiskey and figure out if you like that style of whiskey. Irish, at least to me tacks closer to a flavor profile and isn't as all over the map as you can get in other styles of whiskey, so if you like irish whiskey it's the subtle things that set them apart. Redbreasts basically just get older and 'nicer'. It's hard to really call out what makes a 21 year old redbreast 'perfect' accept that it just is simply 'perfect' irish whiskey with zero faults. It's like a really good steak, it doesn't have to be fancy to be perfect.
The spots are more finished, and for the most part not in like crazy big ways like you'd get in some scotches or bourbons. They impart a note or two in the greens, a bit more in the yellow, and the the blue and red spots kinda all bets are off. I know some people rave about the red and blue spots, but for me the best is the yellow. I think the red and blue deviate too much from irish whiskey.
I'm not wild about a column still which almost every Jameson branded product is, with one exception and I frankly can't recommend it enough because it is starting to show up in the states. Jameson single pot still.
Don't pay more than about $60 for it, but it's amazing stuff. I'm really surprised it's branded as a Jameson product as it is awesome.
I wrote a lot more than I intended... but Irish whiskey is frequently overlooked and it really shouldn't be. There are a lot of makers that focus on just making really good whiskey, no crazy finishes or hype, just a really good whiskey done as well as they can.