Midleton 50YO concludes Silent Distillery Collection
Irish Distillers has unveiled the sixth and final chapter of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection, a 50-year-old whiskey priced at £55,000 (€60,000/ US$60,000).
Chapter Six is the culmination of the brand’s six-year journey of bottling whiskeys distilled at the now silent Old Midleton Distillery.
Debuted in 2020 with a 45-year-old expression, the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection includes whiskeys aged 46, 47, 48, and 49 years, representing the rarest and oldest Irish whiskeys in the world.
The Old Midleton Distillery operated from 1825 to 1975, producing Irish single pot still whiskey. Chapter Six represents the last drops to be released from the distillery – and the oldest single pot still whiskey from Ireland.
Bottled to commemorate the distillery’s 200th anniversary, the final chapter of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection was initially aged in ex-Bourbon American oak barrels. The whiskey was decanted into a bespoke cask crafted by master cooper Ger Buckley and his team.
The unique barrel was created using wood from the five previous Silent Distillery releases. Buckley meticulously selected and reassembled staves from each chapter to form a one-of-a-kind cask for the historic release’s final marriage.
Buckley said: “As a fifth-generation cooper at Midleton Distillery, it has been a great honour to provide a special contribution to the creation of Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six.
“Crafting a bespoke, one-of-a-kind cask for its final maturation, using wood from the Silent Distillery Collection’s original casks embodies the heritage and craftsmanship that have been passed down through my family’s legacy at the distillery.
“Working on the cask that would hold this once-in-a-lifetime whiskey, I found myself wondering if my coopering predecessors ever felt such pressure to preserve every last drop.”
The 50-year-old whiskey’s character is described as ‘wonderfully vibrant, with lively, fresh fruit flavours elegantly balancing earthy aromas of dried tobacco leaves and antique oak’.
End of an era
The release represents the last drops distilled by master distiller emeritus Max Crockett in the world’s largest pot still.
Matured for 50 years, the whiskey has been nurtured by three master distillers: Barry Crockett, Brian Nation, and, most recently, Kevin O’Gorman.
Describing the last chapter, O’Gorman shared: “Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is a whiskey whose excellence is shaped by so many extraordinary factors.
“From the characteristics of the now incredibly rare single pot still distillate style created back in Old Midleton to the 50-year maturation process under the care of my predecessors and me to a one-of-a-kind final marrying, this whiskey has been looked after like no other.
“Max, Barry, Brian, Ger and I, alongside the Midleton Distillery family past and present, have been a team over many decades, protecting and nurturing this liquid to achieve its peak. While there is a sense of sadness as the Old Midleton Distillery and the Silent Distillery Collection reach a close, I know they would all agree that it has been an extraordinary privilege to be part of the creation process.”
O’Gorman added: “As for this exceptional whiskey, I feel immense pride and excitement in unveiling these last precious drops. There is a balance of aged oak influence with fresh fruit notes that can be challenging to achieve in ultra-aged whiskeys, which I hope those lucky enough to enjoy it will find a remarkable surprise. I truly believe that we have encapsulated the essence of Old Midleton in this ultimate expression.”
The presentation
The 50-year-old whiskey is encased in a hand-blown, hand-finished, etched, and polished decanter by the House of Waterford and is presented in a unique wooden cabinet designed by Irish master craftsman John Galvin.
To mark the sixth and final release, Galvin utilised six rare woods – each previously featured in the cabinets of the first five Silent Distillery releases – with the sixth being a blue bird’s eye maple.
The cabinet is enhanced with an 18 carat gold-plated trim, a hand-cut and embroidered premium leather interior, and finishing touches, including oak reclaimed from old Irish whiskey vats.
Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is bottled at 53% ABV and is available to purchase on the Midleton Collection website as well as in specialist retailers in the UK, Ireland and the US. Fewer than 250 bottles are available.
Last month, Irish Distillers announced the temporary production halt at the Midleton Distillery from April until summer.
In 2022, Irish Distillers announced plans to open a second Midleton distillery connected to the current Midleton facility.
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