Christmas is fast approaching, and if you're looking for the perfect gift for the whiskey lover in your life, time is of the essence! Luckily, the home of the pinnacle of Irish Whiskey, Midleton Distillery, has some wonderful festive bottles that will impress for this upcoming Holiday Season.
Midleton Very Rare 2024 Vintage
The 2024 Midleton Very Rare Vintage is rooted in the award-winning Midleton Very Rare profile with a subtle twist of ripe stone and orchard fruit notes. Deliciously well balanced, this latest vintage combines pot still whiskeys with grain whiskeys creating uplifting floral, herbal and scented vanilla notes. Presented in a luxurious recyclable gift box, this unique bottling is available for €240. It won Gold at The Irish Whiskey Masters.
The legacy of Midleton Very Rare began more than four decades ago, fueled by the desire of the distillery’s then Master Distiller to create outstanding expressions. Each subsequent Master also began setting aside small quantities of exceptionally performing whiskey to allow for a new luxury offering in the world of Irish whiskey for years to come.
Nose: Richly scented vanilla with delightful floral and herbal notes to the fore, while aromas of orchard fruits gently build over time, adding ripe apple and sweet pear. The pot still spices, complemented by the nuanced American oak, add warming notes of cinnamon, clove and freshly mown hay that mingle with the delectable notes of toffee and heather honey.
Taste: Silky smooth and luscious at first with mouth-watering tropical fruit notes of peach and nectarine, combining effortlessly with the decadent tastes of crème brûlée, toffee-apple and chocolate dipped honeycomb. The delicate floral grain qualities and full-bodied pot still spices combine seamlessly with the charred oak influences, showcasing a wonderfully balanced yet complex and elegant whiskey.
Finish: Lasting finish which sees the fruits and American oak continue to softly linger until the very end.
Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy
Few people are born into a job and fewer still can say that they were born where they work. Master Distiller Emeritus Barry Crockett has both distinctions. Born in the Distiller’s Cottage at the Midleton Distillery, Barry Crockett has been immersed in the art of whiskey distilling for almost 50 years. Barry learned his craft from his father and Midleton Master Distiller, Max Crockett, eventually succeeding him as Master Distiller in 1981.
As a tribute to the man who is inextricably linked to the Midleton Distillery and who has been instrumental in shaping the renowned Midleton style, Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy displays a distinctive pot still complexity yet is refined and poised on the finish. Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy is now presented in new luxury sustainable packaging, replacing the wooden cabinet used since 2011, honouring the heritage of the past while striving for the future. Awarded Silver Medal at IWSC Spirit Awards 2024. It is available for €300 from the Midleton Distillery Collection website and just won best single pot still 12 years or older at The Irish Whiskey Awards 2024.
Nose: Elegant aroma of vanilla and toasted oak complimented by a touch of lime, succulent green berries, pears and green sweet pepper.
Taste: Light pepper carries onto fresh citrus, limes and mandarin orange sweetness. A hint of cinnamon with vanilla and oak reveals its years spent in American oak.
Finish: The full spectrum of flavours lasts well into the finish, slowly fading to expose the clean American oak foundation.
Redbreast 18 Year Old
Released in September of this year, the 18 year old is a permanent member of the Redbreast family that has been meticulously crafted, offering a unique twist on the classic Redbreast style.
Having already earned prestigious accolades throughout 2024 international global tasting competitions, including four Gold Medals from The Irish Whiskey Masters, Beverage Testing Institute, International Spirits Challenge, and International Wine & Spirit Competition, Redbreast 18 Year Old has added a new and exciting element to the Redbreast range as the first 18 Year Old release for the brand. This new expression uses the addition of cream sherry casks for a unique and distinctive flavour within the Redbreast family line up and is available for €225 RRP.
Constantly seeking innovation, Redbreast Master Blender David McCabe and Redbreast Master Blender Emeritus Billy Leighton meticulously nurtured Redbreast 18 Year Old, drawing inspiration from the aged inventory at Midleton Distillery while also embracing a diverse array of cask types to introduce to the Redbreast range. Crafted from malted and unmalted barley and triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills, this exceptional expression has been aged in a cask combination of ex-bourbon, oloroso sherry, cream sherry and a portion aged in ruby port casks.
Nose: Delectable berry fruit aromas of ripe blackcurrants and raspberries accompanied by sugar glazed cherries and dried fig. Indulgent tones of hazelnut chocolate and caramelised stone fruits with warming and fragrant notes of toasted almonds and cinnamon, nestled alongside polished oak and worn leather.
Taste: Full-bodied and rounded, with the oak tannins complementing the decadent sweetness of sun-kissed grapes and autumnal fruits. Vibrant spices of freshly peeled ginger and hints of liquorice weave amongst the wine seasoned oak influences of dried fruits, dark berries and orange peel.
Finish: Rich and lasting. The pot still spices, fruit and oak slowly fade harmoniously, showcasing the balance of this wonderfully complex whiskey.
Redbreast PX Edition
In September 2021, Redbreast Pedro Ximénez Edition was released as the first in the brand’s Iberian Series. It celebrated Redbreast’s deep ties to the Iberian peninsula’s finest cooperages and wine makers. After three years of continued success as a limited edition, it has now been made a permanent member of the Redbreast portfolio. Redbreast Pedro Ximénez Edition is a single pot still Irish whiskey, triple distilled and initially matured in ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks before being re-casked into delectable Pedro Ximénez hogsheads from the southern tip of Spain for a minimum of 12 months. Just half the size of a standard sherry butt, the increased surface area of the hogshead intensifies the flavour contribution from the Pedro Ximénez-soaked wood, imparting notes of treacle, raisins and orange zest thanks to the sweeter grape variety used in the world renowned sherry.
As with the award-winning Redbreast Lustau Edition, it is another stunning example from Midleton’s skilled whiskey makers of how Ireland and Iberia’s rich heritages can combine to create whiskeys that are truly extraordinary.
Crafted to the exacting standards of Irish Distillers Master Blender Emeritus Billy Leighton and Master Blender Dave McCabe, Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Pedro Ximénez Edition is bottled at 46% ABV and without chill-filtration. It is available in Ireland for €94.99 and just won best single pot still 11 years or younger at The Irish Whiskey Awards 2024.
Nose: Hints of fruit, spices and toasted nuts combine with the subtly sweet aroma of Pedro Ximénez sherry seasoned casks.
Taste: A zesty, syrupy mouthful with the perfect balance of fruit, spice and toasted notes.
Finish: Satisfyingly rich and long, sweet flavours linger on the palate.
Black Friday Offer
For this Black Friday weekend, the Midleton Distillery Collection are offering free engraving on selected whiskey which includes Jameson Caribbean Beats, selected Redbreast and all of the Midleton Very Rare range. Terms and conditions will apply and will be live on the site. It runs from 28 November to 2nd December inclusive from on midletondistillerycollection.com
Slán go fóill.