Midleton rounds off 200th anniversary with 28YO whiskey
Irish Distillers-owned Midleton Distillery has concluded its 200th anniversary year with a limited edition 28-year-old single pot still whiskey.
Master distiller Kevin O’Gorman created the 200th Anniversary Edition, which introduces Japanese mizunara oak for the first time in a Midleton Very Rare whiskey.
Offered at 54.7% ABV, Midleton Very Rare 200th Anniversary Edition is limited to 636 bottles, and is priced at RRP €1,500 (£1,220/US$1,760).
The limited release showcases the distillery’s three unique single pot still styles and was drawn from five select casks. The casks include first- and second-fill American oak casks, and a mizunara oak puncheon filled for more than six years with a bespoke batch of whiskey previously matured in American oak.
The Japanese oak is said to introduce notes of sandalwood and fresh wood spices to the final expression, enhancing fruity flavours of pineapple, kiwi and lemon. These notes are said to complement the vanilla, toffee and heather honey characteristics imparted by the American oak.
O’Gorman commented: “The 200th Anniversary Edition is both a celebration and an evolution, remaining true to Midleton Very Rare’s elegant and sophisticated nature whilst embracing the opportunity to explore something new.
“The mizunara oak cask brings a vibrant, layered flavour that perfectly complements the liquid and legacy of the brand. It is an honour to share this whiskey as we celebrate 200 years of excellence at Midleton Distillery.”
The distillery-exclusive release is presented in a gift box, which includes an illustration of the Midleton Distillery and its pot stills, and a commemorative stamp celebrating the distillery’s milestone.
200 years of heritage
The distillery-exclusive whiskey honours the Murphy family’s founding of the Old Midleton Distillery in 1825 in County Cork, Ireland, celebrating two centuries of craftsmanship and commitment to excellence.
Carol Quinn, head of archives at Midleton Distillery, said: “We are marking the 200th anniversary of Midleton Distillery in the most appropriate way, by paying tribute to our rich distilling tradition which celebrates our history, our people, our brands and our craft.
“Over the year, we delved into the company archive to bring our past to life, sharing with the world the cultural richness and the ambition that has driven the distillery forward over two centuries. This release is shaped by that long legacy of innovation and dedication to quality, which has been the cornerstone of distilling at Midleton for generations.”
Midleton Very Rare 200th Anniversary Edition is available for pre-order now, exclusively through the Midleton Distillery Collection online, with delivery starting on 16 December.
It will also be sold at the Midleton Distillery Experience in Cork and at the Jameson Distillery Bow Street in Dublin, starting from 16 December, though availability will be limited.
To commemorate its bicentennial earlier this year, Midleton concluded its Silent Distillery Collection with the release of a 50-year-old whiskey.
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