Midleton Distillery has unveiled its annual Very Rare release for 2025, marking the prestigious Irish whiskey producer’s 200th anniversary with an unprecedented blend of six distinct distillate styles spanning four decades.
The milestone release represents both a celebration of heritage and a continuation of the distillery’s innovative approach to whiskey making. Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman led the selection process, handpicking exceptional whiskeys from the historic A2 Warehouse, which dates back to the 1860s.
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“As we celebrate 200 years of whiskey making excellence at Midleton Distillery it is a true honour to craft a vintage that commemorates this remarkable legacy,” O’Gorman said. “Midleton Very Rare 2025 is a whiskey of depth and balance, meticulously composed from six distinct distillate styles, each representing generations of mastery, innovation, and dedication that have become synonymous with Midleton Very Rare.”
The launch comes just a few days after the unveiling of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six – an exquisite 50 Year Old whiskey containing the last drops of spirit from the Old Midleton Distillery. As such, both releases represent special celebrations for the distillery’s bicentenary.
Historic Grain Selection
For the first time in the collection’s history, O’Gorman selected three styles of grain whiskey for inclusion. Alongside Midleton’s signature grain whiskey, he incorporated a 22-year-old select batch special grain whiskey crafted from barley and malted barley, blended with a rare 21-year-old grain whiskey.
Both rare grain whiskeys matured in refill ex-American whiskey oak barrels, allowing their natural sweetness and butterscotch notes to remain prominent. This careful selection process highlights Midleton’s commitment to exploring new dimensions within its established tradition.
Enhanced Pot Still Contribution
The 2025 vintage features an increased proportion of pot still whiskey, adding layers of complexity with deep spice and stone fruit notes. These characteristics complement the grain whiskey’s sweet toffee, butterscotch, gentle floral and cut grass notes.
After creating three initial prototypes, the distillery team refined the blend by enhancing the contribution of pot still whiskey aged in first-fill barrels. This meticulous adjustment brought the final expression into perfect harmony while maintaining the established Midleton Very Rare profile.
“This milestone release not only pays tribute to the past but also looks to the future,” O’Gorman added. “As we honour this historic occasion, my team and I remain committed to laying down more extraordinary whiskeys that will continue to shape and inspire the Midleton Very Rare legacy for the next 200 years and beyond.”
The commemorative release comes in a fully recyclable gift box featuring elegant details, including an illustration of Midleton Distillery, its iconic pot stills, and a stamp marking the distillery’s 200th anniversary.
Midleton Very Rare 2025 is bottled at 40% ABV and will be available from 15 April, initially in Ireland, the USA, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Australia, Irish and global travel retail at the RRP of $350 (€240, £220). Additional markets will receive allocations later in 2025.
Midleton Very Rare 2025 Tasting Notes
Nose: Opens with sweet waves of caramelized apple, toffee fudge, and vanilla notes, while the subtle herbal and floral notes of freshly picked garden mint and lavender slowly build over time, complementing the woodland spices of cinnamon and nutmeg thanks to the rich influence of the American oak. The pot still spices, and sweet grain character of this intricate whiskey come together, creating structure and complexity while complementing the notes of fruits and oak.
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Taste: Textured flavors of sweet honeycomb with soft fruits and delicate herbal undertones. Notes of white pepper with a mild hint of chili oil work in tandem with the nuanced taste of citrus and orchard fruits while the sweet nature of this intriguing whiskey continues to build with decadent flavors of treacle, toffee, vanilla, and sugar-glazed fruits.
Finish: Rich and lasting. The fruits begin to softly fade, leaving the oak and pot still spices with the final word.
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