Two new Midleton Irish whiskeys make US debut

Pernod Ricard USA has debuted two new Irish whiskey expressions in the country – Midleton Dair Ghaelach and Green Spot Château Léoville Barton.

Pernod Ricard USA is lauching Midleton Dair Ghaelach and Green Spot Château Léoville Barton in the US

Midleton Dair Ghaelach is the first expression from Irish Distillers’ Midleton distillery that has been finished in virgin Irish oak hogsheads.

Following six years of exploration, a combination of 15 to 22-year-old whiskeys was aged in Bourbon casks before being married in virgin Irish oak hogsheads for an extra year.

Meaning “Irish oak”, Midleton Dair Ghaelach is described as having an increased flavour of vanilla, caramel and chocolate due to the higher levels of vanillin and vanillic acid, as well as furfural in Irish oak, compared to American and Spanish varieties.

Meanwhile Green Spot Château Léoville Barton is the distillery’s first variant to be finished in Bordeaux wine casks for 12-24 months.

Prior to this, the whiskey was matured in a mix of ex-Oloroso Sherry, ex-Bourbon and new American oak barrels.

It is said to offer flavours of oak and spice, combined with a vanilla sweetness, orchard fruits and barley grains.

“For more than 30 years, the Midleton Distillery has been admired for its distillers’ dedication to excellence in Irish craftsmanship and the release of Midleton Dair Ghaelach and Green Spot Château Léoville Barton continues this rich tradition,” said Billy Leighton, master blender at the Midleton Distillery.

“The process of maturing in native oak and ex-Bordeaux casks has enabled us to showcase our Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey style in a new and innovative way which we hope whiskey lovers will appreciate and enjoy.”

Midleton Dair Ghaelach is non-chill-filtered and bottled at cask strength between 58.1% and 58.5% abv. It will go on sale mid-February with an RRP of US$269.99 per 750ml bottle.

Green Spot Château Léoville Barton has an abv of 46% and will also be available to purchase from mid-February for an RRP of US$99.99 per 750ml.