Product Description
Midleton Very Rare 30th Anniversary Pearl Edition
was produced by Irish Distillers to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first bottling in 1984. It is the result of the collaboration of the recently retired Barry Crockett, Master Distiller Emeritus and Brian Nation, Master Distiller, who shared between them more than 60 years’ distilling experience at the Midleton distillery in Cork. Barry and Brian personally selected a 1984 Single Pot Still Irish whiskey and a 1981 grain whiskey respectively to blend into a whiskey of exceptional quality. Both whiskeys have been matured in American oak barrels, which after 30 years have imparted luscious vanilla and delicate honey flavours. Evaporation loss over three decades, along with bottling at the cask strength of 53.1%, meant that there was only enough liquid to fill 117 bottles. Local artisans have collaborated to provide exceptional and authentic packaging for the expression befitting its quality and rarity. Glassblowers from County Kilkenny shaped each bottle individually, which sits in a grand box fashioned from the Irish oak by some of Ireland’s most skilled wood craftspeople from County Wexford. The case houses a limited edition celebratory booklet and a hand-blown miniature of Midleton Very Rare 30th Anniversary Pearl Edition to allow whiskey lovers to taste and share the whiskey without opening the full bottle.
Tasting notes:
Nose The initial fresh herbal notes of crushed garden mint and rosemary, are a testament to the quality of the ex-bourbon barrels in which this whiskey has rested for many years. Soft honey sweetness along with beeswax shows its antique character, while hints of gingerbread combine with toasted oak to compliment some pot still spices.
Taste The soft silky mouth coating is initially honey sweet, then the fresh herbal flavours follow through with a touch of menthol. The spicy notes concentrate, staying sweet with cinnamon and liquorice before the toasted oak adds to the complexity.
Finish The succulence of the herbs and spices is very slow to fade.
