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Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais Irish Whiskey Review

What happens when Ireland's finest whiskies meet France's most prestigious oak? This Midleton masterpiece reveals buttery grains and herbs from 40+ year old stocks.

OVERALL RATING

8
$3000
  • Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant with over a decade of experience in whisky retail and online whisky education. Best known for hosting Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, he is dedicated to making whisky accessible and enjoyable by cutting through jargon and complexity.
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Tasting Notes

About:

A combination of Midleton products dating all the way back to the 1980s that have been finished in some T5 French oak. Kevin O’Gorman and his team examined and sourced wood from the Troncais forest, home to some of the best oak in France. After undergoing a long air drying process, the casks are filled with aged Midleton grain and single pot still whiskeys.
Appearance:
Honey
Nose:
White grapes, poached pears and fresh green apples. Dried mango and apricot, buttery oak, dried cooking herbs, chalky candy sweets, melted butter and sweet grain whiskeys.
Palate:
Soft, mellow start as with all Midleton. Then some of those sweet, woody grain influences arrive with elements of those dried herb notes, too. So a little wood-driven and slightly savoury at the start of the development. You then get the influences of the single pot still stocks, you taste the malted barley, it’s creamy, buttery and a little gristy – the unmalted style provides some soft pepper and nutty notes, think about almonds and croissants.
Finish:
More of that sweet, buttery grain at the end – pencil shavings and melted butter. Touches of caramel with some of those fragrant dried herbs making an appearance. It’s a long, sweet finish that brings back some of those nuttier notes from the palate, it’s like old polished oak, brown butter, flaky pastry and a touch of salt.
Comments:
Well, this is delicious. The price tag is high but it does contain whiskies that are reaching well above that 40 year old mark, they just aren’t declared on the bottle. This is my third time trying this and it’s as delicious as before. It’s a real showcase of how incredible quality oak is sourced by the folks at Midleton.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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