Midleton Very Rare Introduces 48 Year Old Silent Distillery Collection Chapter 4

by Gary Carter
May 19, 2023

The Midleton Very Rare Irish whiskey brand recently introduced the fourth chapter in its Silent Distillery Collection, something its distiller notes will stand out as a piece of timeless mastery.

A statement from Midleton goes on to explain that the Silent Distillery Collection is a series of six whiskeys, ranging from 45 to 50 years old. Each has been gathered from the distiller’s now-silent Old Midleton distillery.

In fact, this fourth release is from one of Ireland’s oldest and rarest whiskey collections, and it’s a 48-year-old blended Irish whiskey that was pot distilled and aged in an ex-bourbon cask.

Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter 4 — The Midleton Very Rare Irish whiskey brand recently introduced the fourth chapter in its Silent Distillery Collection, something its distiller notes will stand out as a piece of timeless mastery. (image via Midleton)

The whiskeys for Chapter Four, which were laid down in 1973 by Master Distiller Emeritus Max Crockett, aged and developed characteristics of their own while maturing in separate casks.

Midleton Very Rare worked with Master Craftsman John Galvin to develop a cabinet for the Silent Collection. Galvin said that for inspiration, he looked to the Earth. His ideas came from a connection with nature, which he said he channeled to help him create the bespoke cabinets for this fourth release, handmade out of select lacewood.

The team of master distillers that spanned the five decades worked together to “monitor this whiskey to ensure its quality remains over time and it can give those who have a chance to taste it something they have never experienced before,” the statement said.

The tasting notes for Chapter 4 show that the whisky has a nose of sweet chocolate, honeycomb, caramelized apple and quince jelly. It tastes of fruits and a hint of chili oil and ginger. It finishes with aromas and tastes of stone fruits and soft spices that linger.

The Silent Distillery Collection itself comes presented in a mouth-blown crystal decanter from the House of Waterford. In all, 119 bottles of the 48-year-old whisky, which clocks in at 53.9% ABV, are up for sale. It has a suggested retail price of €50,000.