Midleton Very Rare 2021
The 2021 edition to Ireland’s most premium and beloved whiskey series; Midleton Very Rare. This is the 38th installment and the first release under Kevin O’ Gorman, appointed Master Distiller of the Midleton Distillery in 2020.
Aromas (without water) Opens with a delicate floral perfume closely followed by roasted coffee beans, salted caramel and honeycomb coming to the fore. Hints of nectarines that linger in the background evolve over time along with freshly grated ginger and nutmeg spice. The American oak provides structure throughout, ranging in depth from fresh woodland notes to aged charred oak.
Palate (without water) Baked orchard fruits with a touch of lime zest and kiwi. Mild pot still spices continue to build along with soft waves of vanilla, sweet coffee liqueur and cocoa powder. The texture initially round and full, gains additional wood spices with a delicate touch of clove oil and nutmeg adding a mild heat, giving balance to the sweetness.
Taste
Initial burst of tangy fruit sweetness of orange peel and sweet pear creating a succulent texture while the pot still spices build overtime adding a mild prickle of chilli oil. The presence of the charred oak remains constant in the background adding balance to the fruits and spices.
Finish
Satisfyingly long finish with the fruits slowly fading, allowing the oak and spices to linger until the very end.
