Midleton Very Rare
Midleton Very Rare is a premium Irish whiskey, produced by the Irish Distillers subsidiary of Pernod Ricard at the New Midleton Distillery, in the East Cork town of Midleton, from which it gets its name. A non-age statement whiskey, containing a mix of pot still and grain whiskeys, it is matured for about twelve to twenty years in ex-bourbon American Oak barrels. One of the most expensive whiskeys regularly produced by Irish Distillers, since its launch in 1984, Midleton Very Rare has frequently been the recipient of strong reviews and awards.
A bottle of Midleton Very Rare with box | |
| Type | Irish whiskey |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard) |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Introduced | 1984 |
| Alcohol by volume | 40% |
| Variants | Midleton 1973 Master Distiller's Private Collection, Midleton Very Rare 30th Anniversary Pearl Edition, Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy, Midleton Dair Ghaelach |
Each year, a new bottling is specially created by the Master Distiller at the Midleton Distillery, using whiskeys handpicked from the distillery's warehouses. Barry Crockett, the Master Distiller who created the whiskey, and oversaw its production until he retired in 2013, stated that his objective each year was "to produce the best whiskey possible". The fact that each vintage differs, and is only released in very limited quantities (typically less than 2,500 cases per annum), makes the whiskey both collectible and expensive.
Each bottle is individually numbered and signed by the Master Distiller, and sold in an accompanying wooden display case.
In recent years several single pot still whiskeys have been released under the Midleton banner alongside Midleton Very Rare.