Midleton Distillery introduces a pair of incredibly limited and very special whiskeys for 2025

Irish Daily Mirror

15-05-2025

Each year, Cork's world-renowned Midleton Distillery - home of Jameson, Redbreast and more - releases its massively anticipated Midleton Very Rare blend, and 2025 is no different.
Midleton Very Rare 2025 is an extraordinary blend of the finest single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys, spanning four decades. This year's vintage is a testament to both tradition and innovation, expertly crafted to pay homage to Midleton Distillery's 200th anniversary.
Drawing on his extensive expertise in distillation and maturation, Master Distiller Kevin O'Gorman led an exceptional team in creating Midleton Very Rare 2025.
In their pursuit of perfection, and for the first time in the collection's history, the team identified six exquisite distillate styles, each representing generations of artisans who have shaped the Midleton Very Rare legacy. Masterfully blended, these distillates unite to create a whiskey of remarkable depth and complexity. This milestone release stands as testament to Midleton Very Rare unwavering craftsmanship, visionary spirit and commitment to pushing the boundaries of Irish whiskey excellence, an ethos that has stood at the core of the distillery since its very inception.
Nose: Opens with sweet waves of caramelised apple, toffee fudge and vanilla notes, while the subtle herbal and floral notes of freshly picked garden mint and lavender slowly build over time, complementing the woodland spices of cinnamon and nutmeg thanks to the rich influence of the American oak. The pot still spices, and sweet grain character of this intricate whiskey come together, creating structure and complexity while complementing the notes of fruits and oak.
Taste: Textured flavours of sweet honeycomb with soft fruits and delicate herbal undertones. Notes of white pepper with a mild hint of chilli oil work in tandem with the nuanced taste of citrus and orchard fruits while the sweet nature of this intriguing whiskey continues to build with decadent flavours of treacle, toffee, vanilla, and sugar glazed fruits.
Finish: Rich and lasting. The fruits begin to softly fade, leaving the oak and pot still spices with the final word.
Celebrating the launch of Midleton Very Rare 2025, Kevin O'Gorman said, "As we celebrate 200 years of whiskey making excellence at Midleton Distillery, it is a true honour to craft a vintage that commemorates this remarkable legacy.
"This milestone release not only pays tribute to the past but also looks to the future. As we honour this historic occasion, my team and I remain committed to laying down more extraordinary whiskeys that will continue to shape and inspire the Midleton Very Rare legacy for the next 200 years and beyond.'
However, not content with one release, this year also sees the final instalment in the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery series.
Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter Six is the culmination of a series that began in 2020, with one chapter released annually since then. The collection honours the legacy of the Old Midleton Distillery, an icon of Irish distilling legend, which operated from 1825 to 1975 and was world-renowned for its Irish single pot still whiskey.
Chapter Six represents the very last drops to be released from the legendary Old Midleton, now forever silent. 50 years in the making and unveiled to celebrate the distillery's 200th anniversary, the final chapter of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection is a true taste of Irish whiskey history, never to be repeated.
Initially aged in ex-bourbon American oak barrels, the whiskey was later decanted into a bespoke cask crafted by Master Cooper Ger Buckley and his team. This unique barrel was created using wood from the five previous Silent Distillery releases, with Buckley meticulously selecting and reassembling staves from each chapter to form a one-of-a-kind cask for the final marrying of this historic release.
Nose: Opens with decadent notes of dark fruits and malted barley drizzled with forest honey. Earthy aromas of dried tobacco leaves combine with worn leather and antique oak to produce an intricate assortment of flavours that recalls five decades of ageing to perfection. Burnt orange peel and grated ginger deliver vibrant crisp notes alongside subtle hints of black truffle, cocoa aromas and mild nutty undertones.
Taste: Stone fruit notes to the fore with flavours of peaches and nectarines. Indulgent notes of treacle and whiskey-soaked raisins build over time. Oak tannins work gently in harmony with the pot still spices giving balance to the rounded and luscious texture of this wonderfully complex whiskey.
Finish: Exquisitely long finish that showcases the range and spectrum of flavours ranging from crisp, elegant and sweet notes to the rich, earthy and oak driven nature of this timeless liquid.
Midleton Very Rare 2025 is bottled at 40% ABV and is available now at the RRP of €240.
Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is bottled at 53% ABV and is available to purchase in specialist retailers at a RRP of €60,000.