Midleton Very Rare

Midleton Very Rare Vintage Irish Whiskey is the crowning pinnacle of Irish luxury spirits, celebrated globally as the ultimate expression of master blending from Ireland's most famous distilling house. Created in 1984 by legendary master distiller Barry Crockett to showcase the extraordinary quality of mature Irish whiskey, Midleton Very Rare is released only once per year in strictly limited quantities. Each annual vintage is a unique, unrepeatable masterpiece, individually numbered and signed by the master distiller, presented in a handcrafted oak display case.

Distilled and matured at the historic Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland, this prestige release brings together the finest hand-selected mature casks from Midleton's vast inventory. The blend is an artful union of rare, triple-distilled Single Pot Still whiskeys—crafted from malted and unmalted barley in Midleton's historic copper pot stills—and exceptional, silky single grain whiskeys. The parcels selected for Midleton Very Rare range in age from twelve to twenty-five years, representing some of the oldest, rarest, and most precious maturing stocks in all of Ireland.

The maturation of Midleton Very Rare takes place exclusively in lightly charred, first-fill and second-fill American white oak ex-bourbon barrels. By focusing on pristine ex-bourbon wood rather than heavy fortified wine casks, the master distiller allows the delicate, floral ester character of the ancient distillate and the pure, creamy pot still spices to shine with breathtaking clarity, elegance, and natural sweetness without masking.

Bottled at 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof), Midleton Very Rare pours a luminous, polished gold. The aroma is a sublime and intricate bouquet of sweet vanilla fudge, ripe orchard fruit, green apple, candied lemon peel, toasted oak, and floral blossom. On the palate, it delivers an astonishingly silky, velvet-like viscosity, unfolding with layers of baked pineapple, honey, creamy butterscotch, ginger spice, and sweet oak vanillin, followed by an endlessly long, gentle, and aristocratic finish that leaves the palate clean and refreshed.

A whiskey of this extraordinary rarity and craftsmanship demands to be savored neat in a fine crystal tasting glass. It requires no water, as its delicate nuances and silky texture are balanced to absolute perfection right from the bottle. Pouring it for an anniversary, retirement, or major corporate celebration turns any gathering into an unforgettable event, making it one of the most treasured gifts in all of luxury spirits.

Midleton Very Rare is the ultimate acquisition for the serious Irish whiskey collector, an unforgettable gift for landmark milestones, and the undisputed crown jewel of any elite spirits collection worldwide.

Because each annual vintage of Midleton Very Rare is assembled from a strictly limited parcel of casks, no two releases are identical, yet all share the signature silky elegance and fruit-forward purity established by Barry Crockett. Pouring a measure into a crystal copita and allowing it to breathe without ice allows the complex bouquet of vanilla fudge, green apple, and delicate pot still spices to unfurl without thermal shock. It represents the ultimate toast for momentous family milestones, retirements, and lifetime achievements.