Premium Irish Whiskey purveyor Midleton Very Rare, has launched the fifth chapter in its Silent Distillery Collection. This extraordinary 49-year-old expression is crafted with some of the last remaining liquid from the Old Midleton Distillery, which was decommissioned after operating from 1825 to 1975.
This limited-edition release is the penultimate launch in the Silent Distillery collection.
Master Distiller Max Crockett originally distilled the liquid in 1973, utilising the world’s largest pot still. Since then it has slumbered under the aegis of all three of the brand’s subsequent Master Distillers.
Aged in American ex-bourbon wood, tasting notes report a medley of stone and citrus fruits, herbal tea and dark chocolate, balanced by the spices of anise and ginger, and sweet undertones of salted caramel and toffee apple.
Master Distiller Max Crockett originally distilled the liquid in 1973, utilising the world’s largest pot still…
The whiskey is presented in a hand blown decanter, etched by the artisans of Waterford Crystal. It’s housed in an accompanying handcrafted tiger brown oak burr cabinet created by Irish designer John Galvin. The cabinet is inlaid with antique white leather, with reclaimed 200-year-old whiskey vat oak and silver detailing.
Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman says the release “embodies a captivating tale that celebrates the convergence of the finest wood, exceptional whiskey, and indomitable spirit of the master craftsmen who sit at the heart of the Old Midleton Distillery’s legacy. The result is truly remarkable.”
The barrels chosen by O’Gorman were married for a final six months in cask number 52969, an American ex-bourbon barrel which was repaired by Dominic Buckley in the mid Seventies and, as is customary for coopers, marked with the Buckley family’s signature ‘1’ stamp as a mark of quality and to ensure its traceability.
Buckley’s barrel, which endured over 50 years without a single leak, was later inspected and maintained by his son Ger Buckley, the current Master Cooper at Midleton Distillery.
Bottled at 52.4% ABV, this limited release will be available direct and from select outlets, priced at €55,000 ($55,000).
Glen Moray hopes to temp whisky fans with the latest addition to its Xperience Collection, Forbidden Fruit. This novel single malt is finished in casks that previously held Calvados, the historic apple brandy of Normandy. The whisky continues the Elgin distillery’s long-running interest in cask experimentation. Forbidden Fruit follows earlier Xperience Collection bottlings Phoenix Rising,…
The Isle of Raasay Distillery has introduced a new single malt matured exclusively in uncommon American oak. Chinkapin, or Quercus muehlenbergii, is a North American species traditionally used only as a finishing cask. At Raasay, it has been part of the distillery’s maturation programme from the beginning. The Chinkapin takes its position as the third…
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series. The Redbreast offers mature pot still character,…
The Luxe Review 
Premium Irish Whiskey purveyor Midleton Very Rare, has launched the fifth chapter in its Silent Distillery Collection. This extraordinary 49-year-old expression is crafted with some of the last remaining liquid from the Old Midleton Distillery, which was decommissioned after operating from 1825 to 1975.
As such, it’s Midleton’s oldest whiskey to date.
This limited-edition release is the penultimate launch in the Silent Distillery collection.
Master Distiller Max Crockett originally distilled the liquid in 1973, utilising the world’s largest pot still. Since then it has slumbered under the aegis of all three of the brand’s subsequent Master Distillers.
Aged in American ex-bourbon wood, tasting notes report a medley of stone and citrus fruits, herbal tea and dark chocolate, balanced by the spices of anise and ginger, and sweet undertones of salted caramel and toffee apple.
The whiskey is presented in a hand blown decanter, etched by the artisans of Waterford Crystal. It’s housed in an accompanying handcrafted tiger brown oak burr cabinet created by Irish designer John Galvin. The cabinet is inlaid with antique white leather, with reclaimed 200-year-old whiskey vat oak and silver detailing.
Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman says the release “embodies a captivating tale that celebrates the convergence of the finest wood, exceptional whiskey, and indomitable spirit of the master craftsmen who sit at the heart of the Old Midleton Distillery’s legacy. The result is truly remarkable.”
The barrels chosen by O’Gorman were married for a final six months in cask number 52969, an American ex-bourbon barrel which was repaired by Dominic Buckley in the mid Seventies and, as is customary for coopers, marked with the Buckley family’s signature ‘1’ stamp as a mark of quality and to ensure its traceability.
Buckley’s barrel, which endured over 50 years without a single leak, was later inspected and maintained by his son Ger Buckley, the current Master Cooper at Midleton Distillery.
Bottled at 52.4% ABV, this limited release will be available direct and from select outlets, priced at €55,000 ($55,000).
The unveiling of Chapter Five follows the recent release of the Midleton Very Rare 40th anniversary Ruby Edition, and its Midleton Very Rare 2024 vintage.
First pour: Glen Moray adds Calvados twist to Speyside whisky and it’s a toffee apple treat
Glen Moray hopes to temp whisky fans with the latest addition to its Xperience Collection, Forbidden Fruit. This novel single malt is finished in casks that previously held Calvados, the historic apple brandy of Normandy. The whisky continues the Elgin distillery’s long-running interest in cask experimentation. Forbidden Fruit follows earlier Xperience Collection bottlings Phoenix Rising,…
Isle of Raasay debuts The Chinkapin single malt whisky matured in unusual Oak casks
The Isle of Raasay Distillery has introduced a new single malt matured exclusively in uncommon American oak. Chinkapin, or Quercus muehlenbergii, is a North American species traditionally used only as a finishing cask. At Raasay, it has been part of the distillery’s maturation programme from the beginning. The Chinkapin takes its position as the third…
The Whisky Exchange debuts 20 Year Old Redbreast Irish Whiskey and Mars Komagatake Japanese single cask exclusives
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series. The Redbreast offers mature pot still character,…
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