Midleton’s Latest Very Rare Irish Whiskey A 47 Year Offering

Irish Distillers, through its Midleton Very Rare line, has offered up the latest expression in the Silent Distillery collection, a 47 year old Irish whiskey. Known as Chapter Three, it has quite a fascinating history to it.

Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Three, according to those behind it, is a 47 year old Single Pot Still Irish whiskey born from the marriage of two separate whiskeys matured in an ex-sherry butt and an ex-bourbon barrel. The two whiskeys date back to 1973 and were blended before bottling.

“Crafted from a marriage of distillations left to mature over 47 years in a hand-selected bourbon barrel and a sherry butt,” said Midleton Master Distiller, Kevin O’Gorman, in a prepared statement, “Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter Three is a wonderfully aged yet contemporary expression of Irish Whiskey like no other.

“This year the inspiration of fire came from the world’s largest pot still and the relentless work from the local men, the ‘fire men’ who used to feed the still’s fires, whilst learning how to regulate the heat through stoking and raking to ensure the temperature was correct.”

Just 97 bottles of this particular release are being made available, each decanted into handblown and etched crystal decanter bottles, produced by Ireland’s Waterford Crystal, with each of the bottles individually numbered 1-97. The bottles come displayed in a bespoke wooden cabinet handcrafted by Irish designer, John Galvin, using wood made from Burr Elm.

Silent Distillery Chapter Three will be available to purchase via a ballot on the Midleton Very Rare 1825 room through 10th May. More complete details are below. It should be noted as well this release marks the half way point of the Silent Distillery collection, consisting of expressions that range in age from 45 to 50 years.

• Age: 47 Years
• Distillate type: Single Pot Still
• Cask type: Two cask blend – Bourbon and Sherry
• Release Date: May 2022
• 97 bottles
• RRP: €45,000, £42,500, $51,000
• Availability: Ireland, UK, Global Travel Retail, US, France
  • Retailers include:
    • Ireland – Brown Thomas
    • UK – Harrods, Hedonism, Harvey Nichols, Master of Malt, The Whiskey Exchange, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Fine and Rare, Bordeaux Index and Fortnum & Mason
    • France – La Maison du Whiskey
    • Singapore – Duty Free

Official Tasting Notes

• Nose
  A rich medley of forest fruits, with notes of sugar-glazed cherries, earthy and toffee tones of muscovado sugar and almond flake. These notes complement the oak’s enduring influence on the spirit adding aromas akin to worn leather bound ledgers and pipe tobacco, while the pot still spirit continues to firmly assert its presence adding measured levels of spice.
• Taste
  Opens with a luxuriously rich and full-bodied texture with accompanying notes of freshly brewed dark roasted coffee, caramelised fruits with crushed pistachio and hazelnut. Mild notes of dried herbs and peppermint add further complexity along with the oak’s soft tannins and delicate pot still spices.
• Finish
  Lasting finish in which the soft fruits and old pot still spices linger in harmony with the oak, further emphasising how decades of undisturbed ageing can create such balance and complexity.