{"product_id":"midleton-very-rare-2026-vintage-release-irish-whiskey-700ml","title":"Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Release Irish Whiskey 700ml","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMidleton Very Rare has been the annual vintage release from Ireland’s Midleton Distillery since 1984, and the 2026 edition is the 43rd, and the sixth created by Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman. Each year, every Midleton master distiller sets aside small amounts of “exceptionally performing” whiskeys, and O’Gorman’s journey for 2026 began in the distillery’s historic warehouses, some of them dating to the 1860s. As he puts it: “Each year, we hope to share a Midleton Very Rare Vintage that heroes the years of craftsmanship gone before whilst creating something rare, new and enticing for people to discover. As the sixth Vintage Release under my guardianship, I wanted to explore the bounds of what is possible from our array of exceptional liquids.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe 2026 blend draws on ten parcels of whiskey, with components aged between 14 and 36 years. It combines the distillery’s three single pot still styles with two single grain whiskeys, with a higher proportion of traditional and light pot still whiskey, and spotlights a parcel of 15- to 16-year-old traditional pot still matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. The grain whiskeys include Midleton’s signature grain, in increased proportion, along with a small-batch grain made from malted and unmalted barley, aged for more than two decades, which adds a characteristic butterscotch note. The oldest component is a 36-year-old grain whiskey matured in a second-fill bourbon cask. As Whisky Advocate notes, Midleton Very Rare is aged exclusively in American oak bourbon barrels, in a combination of first-, second-, and third-fill casks. Master distiller O’Gorman says, “We don’t use any new oak, fortified wine, or wine casks. It’s all about the American oak barrels.” The 2026 release comes in a new recyclable secondary box made entirely from paper, replacing the magnets used in earlier packaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhisky Advocate’s Jonny McCormick scored it 93 Points. His notes: “The nose opens with abundant sweetness and fruitiness, as caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, and toasted oak meet sliced kiwi, tangy citrus zest, fragrant grain, apricot, florals, and light spices. On the palate, creamy butterscotch, vanilla frosting, and green melon glide into cinnamon powder, ginger root, and mocha. A sumptuous mouth-coating finish of vanilla and gentle spices evokes vintage 2015, delivering a sweeter, creamier experience than recent years.” Release notes describe a nose that is “fresh and fruity, opening with orange peel and lemon zest,” with Midleton’s traditional “crème brûlée and toffee” woven with floral notes, and a finish where “pot still spices fade, leaving a lingering infusion of fruits and oak.” Release volumes are never disclosed, but O’Gorman says the 2026 release is in line with 2025. For collectors, it’s the newest entry in a series that has defined blended Irish whiskey at its highest level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigins \u0026amp; Craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMidleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Release is produced by Irish Distillers at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland, under Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman. It is a blend of three single pot still styles and two single grain whiskeys from ten parcels, aged between 14 and 36 years, matured exclusively in first-, second-, and third-fill American oak bourbon barrels. Bottled at 40% ABV \/ 80 proof, 700ml, in a limited annual release, in a recyclable paper box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJonny McCormick, Whisky Advocate — 93 Points (March 2026):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The nose opens with abundant sweetness and fruitiness, as caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, and toasted oak meet sliced kiwi, tangy citrus zest, fragrant grain, apricot, florals, and light spices. On the palate, creamy butterscotch, vanilla frosting, and green melon glide into cinnamon powder, ginger root, and mocha. A sumptuous mouth-coating finish of vanilla and gentle spices evokes vintage 2015, delivering a sweeter, creamier experience than recent years.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMidleton (release notes):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“On the nose, the 2026 Vintage is fresh and fruity, opening with orange peel and lemon zest, but traditional Midleton notes of crème brûlée and toffee are there too, intertwined with whiskey’s floral influence... Finish: Pot still spices fade, leaving a lingering infusion of fruits and oak, showcasing Midleton’s harmonious whiskey blend.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCaramel, vanilla, butterscotch, and toasted oak meet sliced kiwi, citrus zest, apricot, florals, and light spice, with crème brûlée and toffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCreamy butterscotch, vanilla frosting, and green melon, moving into cinnamon, ginger root, and mocha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLong and mouth-coating, with vanilla and gentle spice, and lingering fruit and oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eCategory\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlended Irish Whiskey — Single Pot Still \u0026amp; Single Grain, Vintage Release\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABV \/ Proof\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40% ABV \/ 80 Proof\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComponents\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 single pot still styles, 2 single grain styles; 10 parcels; 14 to 36 years old\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOldest Component\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e36-year-old grain whiskey, second-fill bourbon cask\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaturation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmerican oak bourbon barrels only (first-, second-, and third-fill)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistillery\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMidleton Distillery — County Cork, Ireland\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaster Distiller\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKevin O’Gorman (6th vintage)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeries\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMidleton Very Rare — 43rd annual release\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhisky Advocate 93\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle \/ Identity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA sweet, creamy, fruit-and-spice-forward vintage with decades-old grain and pot still\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAromas \u0026amp; Flavors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCaramel, vanilla, butterscotch, kiwi, citrus zest, apricot, cinnamon, ginger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e700ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrème brûlée and butterscotch desserts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApricot or orchard fruit tarts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAged cheddar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDark chocolate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eEnjoy neat, with a few drops of water to open the fruit and floral notes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Southern","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45586768166978,"sku":null,"price":235.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0363\/8621\/files\/Midleton_Very_Rare_2026_Vintage_Release_Irish_Whiskey_700ml.jpg?v=1792202658","url":"https:\/\/www.blackwellswines.com\/products\/midleton-very-rare-2026-vintage-release-irish-whiskey-700ml","provider":"Blackwell's Wines \u0026 Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}