Two Wonders Of The Whiskey World

The last couple of weeks have been extremely busy to say the least, and now that we have our spirit licence, we're delighted to let you know that we have some very, very rare gems in stock. We have also penned a couple of in-store tastings into our diaries, so if you haven't been in to see us yet, these might be just the push you needed.

Form an orderly queue; we only have one of each available. The Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection is a curated selection of six whiskies, the world’s oldest Irish whiskies, which have been carefully and expertly monitored and matured throughout the years by the Master Distillers of Midleton to give whiskey collectors an opportunity to own their own piece of this iconic whiskey history. First released in 2020, this collection of six whiskeys is released annually with the final sixth whiskey launching in 2025 to celebrate 200 years of Midleton. Descriptions and information from Midleton website.

Midleton Very Rare, Silent Distillery Collection, Chapter 3

Chapter Three is an exceptional 47-year-old whiskey born from the marriage of two separate whiskeys matured in an ex-sherry butt and an ex-bourbon barrel. The two whiskeys date back to 1973 and were blended before bottling to give the whiskey an extraordinary flavour. With just 97 bottles of this extraordinarily rare Irish whiskey produced, Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Three is incomparable in terms of age and history.

Staying true to its proud Irish heritage and luxury craftsmanship, Chapter Three has been decanted into handblown and etched crystal decanter bottles, produced by House of Waterford Crystal, with each of the bottles individually numbered 1-97. The bottle comes displayed in a bespoke wooden cabinet handcrafted by Irish designer, John Galvin, using wood made from Elm & Burr Elm, an ancient wood as rare as the whiskey within it.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE
The first impression is a rich medley of forest fruits. Notes of sugar-glazed cherries, earthy and toffee tones of muscovado sugar and almond flake follow, complementing the oak’s enduring influence on the spirit. Aromas reminiscent of worn, leather-bound ledgers and pipe tobacco linger, while measured levels of pot still spices add their own delicate presence.

TASTE
Opens with a luxuriously rich and full-bodied texture accompanied by notes of freshly brewed dark roasted coffee, caramelised fruits, crushed pistachio and hazelnut. Hints of dried herbs and peppermint add further complexity, along with the oak’s soft tannins and subtle pot still spices.

FINISH
A lasting finish finds soft fruits and old pot still spices lingering in harmony with the oak, emphasising how decades of undisturbed ageing can create such balance and complexity.

Midleton Very Rare, Silent Distillery Collection, Chapter 4

Introducing the next chapter of Ireland’s oldest ever collection of Irish whiskey, the fourth release of Midleton Very Rare’s Silent Distillery Collection. This 48-year-old whiskey contains the finest Pot Still and grain whiskeys before being aged to perfection. The Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection contains six unparalleled releases, each inspired from an element that has sparked its luxurious nature. The first release came in 2020, and each year the team at Midleton Very Rare will share a new chapter until 2025, with each whiskey hailing from the legendary Old Midleton Distillery which operated from 1825 to 1975.

A once busy and bustling distillery turned silent in 1975, this special collection from Old Midleton is a relic of the whiskey brilliance which has come before. Now it is bottled, expertly packaged in a unique cabinet of unparalleled quality, and made available to a lucky few to sip, savour, and own forever. This is your piece of Midleton Very Rare history few get a chance to taste.

Created and matured under the watchful eyes of each celebrated Master Distiller at Midleton Very Rare, the whiskey has been enhanced through each changing of hands, with the respective Masters taking great care to protect the legacy of the precious liquid.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE
Notes of chocolate dipped honeycomb with caramelised red apples and quince jelly. Luxurious aromas are enhanced by the sweetness of coffee cake and vanilla-scented cream, while earthy fragrances are matched by those of an antique, cedarwood cigar box. Dried flowers, that still carry delicate waves of a floral perfume, add to the array of flavours.

TASTE
An explosion of fruits at first with fresh plums, peaches, and dried apricot. A hint of chilli oil and grated ginger follows. Delicate oak tannins, perfectly balanced with the fruits and pot still spices, work in harmony with a suggestion of mature Roquefort cheese. Floral and sweet grain whiskey add finesse, making this a wonderfully complex blend that is silk-textured and full-bodied.

FINISH
Stone fruits and soft spices continue to linger for a time, with the oak tannins quietly fading into the background.