Midleton Very Rare launches 2023 Vintage, and an Ultra-Rare Single Bottle, Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage

Midleton Very Rare, The Pinnacle of Irish Whiskey, Launches 2023 Vintage

Debuting new sustainable packaging, Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman shares his third vintage and the 40^th annual expression in the series

Irish Distillers, maker of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, is delighted to release Midleton Very Rare 2023. The third vintage crafted by Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman, and the 40^th edition in the series, Midleton Very Rare 2023 is an exquisite blend of aged single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys.

The rich heritage of Midleton Very Rare began over four decades ago when the masters of the time began setting aside small amounts of outstanding whiskeys to allow future masters to create innovative expressions for years to come. Today, Midleton Very Rare’s limited annual vintages are highly collectible and renowned as the pinnacle of Irish whiskey.

While honouring the traditions of the past, Midleton Very Rare 2023 also pays homage to the future as the brand prioritises sustainability and a commitment to the land from which it is created. For the first time, the new vintage will be presented in luxury recyclable secondary packaging*, replacing the wooden cabinet used since 1990.

With Midleton Distillery’s warehouses having been under Kevin O’Gorman’s care since 2007, the Master Distiller’s knowledge of its cask inventory is second to none. To ensure the creation of an exquisite 2023 expression, O’Gorman and his team took their search for the perfect components to Midleton’s renowned ‘Warehouse A2’, a traditional stone warehouse dating back to 1860s, where only the most exceptionally performing liquid is stored for maturation.

Midleton Very Rare 2023 includes the spectrum of pot still whiskeys produced at Midleton ranging from a lighter, delicate style to the more robust flavours of the traditional heavier style. This year, Kevin increased the traditional pot still inclusion which elevates the spiciness and ripe fruit notes, while also increasing the lighter style to reveal more citrus and cereal tones. Fresh floral notes from the grain whiskey element, while significant, are more subtle in the 2023 expression compared with previous vintages, with additional hints of vanilla, toffee, honeycomb and milk chocolate also shining through from remarkable grain whiskeys. While the use of refill casks can play a vital role in the creation of all Midleton Very Rare vintages, they vary in each expression, and played a more prominent role in the 2023 vintage. This peeling back of the wood contribution, complimented by a small reduction in grain whiskey, results in a wonderful balance between distillate character and wood contribution in this extraordinary expression.

While maintaining the distinct Midleton Very Rare DNA, O’Gorman has used his skill in both distillation and maturation to add his stamp of subtle yet impactful nuances that permeate this year’s vintage.

Commenting on Midleton Very Rare 2023, O’Gorman states, “Each year, it is a privilege and an honour to pour through the samples of exceptional liquids stored in the Midleton warehouses to create the next pinnacle of luxury Irish whiskey, and the 2023 vintage is no different. The tradition and history of Midleton Distillery means I am lucky enough to sample some of the finest Irish whiskeys in existence. Finding the perfect blend of single pot still and single grain whiskeys for this year is a testament to those who have gone before me, while the presentation of the liquid in recyclable packaging is a step towards the future for this historic brand.”

Midleton Very Rare 2023 was bottled in January 2023 at 40% ABV and will be available from 22nd February in the USA, Canada, Global Travel Retail, Europe, Australia, and Asia at the RRP of €210, £200, $250.

#MidletonVeryRare2023

#PinnacleofIrishWhsikey

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IG: @MidletonVeryRare

Shop online: https://www.midletonveryrare.com/en-EN/midleton-very-rare-vintage-release

Midleton Very Rare 2023 tasting notes

Nose Opens with an intricate medley of fruits including nectarines, ripe melon, green apple, and apricot. A solid foundation of pot still spices, showcasing notes of freshly peeled ginger and crushed peppercorns, work in tandem with the aged grain’s perfumed notes of dried flowers and delectable golden syrup. The oak continues to reveal itself, adding notes of vanilla, combined with a honeycomb sweetness and freshly roasted coffee beans.

Taste Luscious at first with succulent fruits and a distinctive creaminess along with a herbal quality akin to camomile tea. The pot still spices add depth and intrigue as they weave amongst the floral grain qualities found lingering throughout. The charred oak’s influence continues to build over time creating additional complexity as the wood-derived spices complement the ever-present fruits of candied orange and dried apricot.

Finish The fruits and pot still spices build to a crescendo before giving way, leaving the final say to the oak tannins and antique grain whiskey.

Midleton Very Rare Launches Ultra-Rare Sungle Bottle, Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage

The one-of-a-kind, single bottle release represents first NFT sale for Midleton Very Rare and Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers, maker of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, is honoured to unveil Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage, an ultra-rare single bottle release. Offering one whiskey enthusiast the opportunity to taste the breadth of the world famous Midleton Very Rare collection in a single expression, Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage, is the rarest bottle of Midleton Very Rare ever produced.

Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage represents the first Irish whiskey for sale exclusively on BlockBar.com, the global marketplace selling wine and spirits authenticated by blockchain directly from luxury brands. The one-of-a-kind release signifies the evolution of the luxury whiskey landscape as the world’s most collectable Irish whiskey moves into blockchain authentication, seeking to connect with today’s discerning luxury consumers.

This unique expression encompasses a portion from each of the 40 annual Midleton Very Rare expressions as well as a cask sample of traditional single pot still distilled in 1984 under then Master Distiller and founder of the Midleton Very Rare collection, Barry Crockett. This single bottle encapsulates the Midleton Very Rare DNA, paying homage to Barry Crockett and those he inspired, spanning five decades and three Master Distillers’ work. While the whiskey industry has evolved since the creation of the very first Midleton Very Rare in 1984, the principles and consistent quality of this luxury Irish whiskey brand transcends time, and Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage holds the subtle nuances from each of these expressions in one timeless and inimitable whiskey.

One buyer will enjoy a sensory experience of aromas and flavours from the decades. From tropical fruit notes of peach and melons to old worn leather and antique furniture on the nose, flavours of dark chocolate and green tea are then closely followed by a decadent sweetness of muscovado sugar, vanilla, and honey-drizzled figs. Orange oil and passion fruit add a striking and colourful explosion of flavour, while the pot still spices and delicate floral grain attributes remain constant in the background.

Commenting on the release, Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman states, “It is with great honour that we introduce Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage. Crafted from a marriage of rare and storied expressions produced over the past forty years, and a treasured cask sample of single pot still whiskey distilled under Barry Crockett, Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage is an Irish whiskey that can never again be replicated.

“Often referred to as the pinnacle of Irish whiskey, Midleton Very Rare is hugely popular among international collectors, and it is fitting that this luxury brand would represent the first Irish whiskey sale benefitting from the security of BlockBar.”

Presented in a one-of-a-kind cut glass decanter, the physical bottle of Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage, which is stored in BlockBar’s state-of-the-art facility in Singapore, comes with a digital certificate of authentication and can be traced back to Midleton Distillery in Ireland. Blockbar stores and insures Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage, and the owner may redeem, sell or gift the physical bottle at any time.

Priced at $130,000, Midleton Very Rare The Decades Vintage is available to purchase on BlockBar.com from 10am EST on 28th February.

As part of the sale, a donation will be made to The Forest Genetic Resources Trust, partners of the Midleton Very Rare team at Irish Distillers. The Forest Genetic Resources Trust supports the conservation, improvement, and use of native and naturalised tree species in Irish forestry. Funds donated will be used to create a seed orchard that will support the future of Midleton Very Rare projects.

#MidletonVeryRare2023

#PinnacleofIrishWhiskey

#MVRSustainabilityJourney

IG: @MidletonVeryRare

Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage tasting notes

Aroma:
A captivating harmony of aromas, spanning from tropical fruit notes of peaches and melons to old worn leather and antique furniture. Sweet vanilla and dried heather create a melodious scent, that carefully navigates through the pot still spices and charred oak.

Taste:
Initially welcomed by the aged tannins, these notes of dark chocolate and green tea are closely followed by a decadent sweetness of muscovado sugar, vanilla, and honey-drizzled figs. Orange oil and passion fruit add a striking and colourful explosion of flavour, while the pot still spices and delicate floral grain attributes remain constant in the background.

Finish:
The finish is lingering and complex with the sweetness gently fading allowing an ambrosial fruit-led crescendo. A whiskey truly embodying timelessness.

Midleton Very Rare Launches Ultra-Rare Sungle Bottle, Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage

The one-of-a-kind, single bottle release represents first NFT sale for Midleton Very Rare and Irish Distillers

Priced at $130,000, Midleton Very Rare The Decades Vintage is available to purchase on BlockBar.com from 10am EST on 28th February.

#MidletonVeryRare2023

#PinnacleofIrishWhiskey

#MVRSustainabilityJourney

IG: @MidletonVeryRare

Midleton Very Rare The Pinnacle Vintage tasting notes

Finish:
The finish is lingering and complex with the sweetness gently fading allowing an ambrosial fruit-led crescendo. A whiskey truly embodying timelessness.

Tags: 2023 Vintagemidleton very rareThe Pinnacle VintageUltra Rare Single Bottle

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.