| Type | Irish whiskey |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard) |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Introduced | 1984 |
| Alcohol by volume | 40% |
| Variants | Midleton 1973 Master Distiller's Private Collection, |
Midleton Very Rare is a premium blended Irish whiskey, produced by Irish Distillers at their distillery, in the East Cork town of Midleton, from which it gets its name. Midleton Very Rare is considered by many to be the finest of Irish blended whiskey as well as among the finest Irish whiskeys in general.
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It was launched in 1984 to celebrate the whiskeys produced in Midleton. A new vintage is released every year. Each bottle is individually numbered and signed by the Master blender.
As the name suggests, the whiskey is produced in limited quantities. Only 50 casks are released each year, it is therefore both expensive and collectible. The whiskeys used in the blend are handpicked by the Master blender, all are triple distilled and have aged between 12 and 25 years in individually selected Bourbon or Sherry casks. As a new vintage is created each year, each differs slightly and has its own character.
Midleton Very Rare has received strong reviews from a number of sources. It was awarded a Double Gold rating (meaning unanimous gold medal from all judges) at the 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition[1] after having won only Gold in 2005[2]. It was a finalist in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011, where it earned a rating of 'Extraordinary - Ultimate Recommendation'[3]. The prior year, the 2008 vintage was awarded the Chairman's Trophy (top prize for its class) in this same contest.[4] It was also a finalist in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011[5]. It currently holds a rating of 93 on 'For Peat' Sake'[6].