Whisky Focus - Midleton Releases Exclusive Single Pot Still Single Cask Whiskey

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has launched two new rare, single cask, single pot still whiskeys from the Midleton Distillery, makers of the world’s No 1 Irish whiskey, Jameson.

Both new expressions have been released under the celebrated Midleton brand, renowned for its annual vintage release of the Midleton Very Rare blend. Created exclusively for two specific customers – the new Irish Whiskey Collection shop at the recently opened Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport, and The Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dublin's Dawson Street - the whiskeys were personally selected from individual casks by Master Distiller Barry Crockett as outstanding expressions of the Midleton style.

Just 200 bottles of the Terminal 2 release were yielded from cask No 48709. This 19 year old single pot still whiskey was laid down in November 1991 in a first-fill American bourbon barrel and has, in a new departure for the Midleton brand, been bottled at cask strength (53.7% ABV). The cask strength affords the whiskey connoisseur the rare opportunity to experience a Midleton whiskey as it emerges directly from the cask. The whiskey reveals a dark, fleshy fruit character in perfect balance with the underlying pot still spiciness. The impressive presentation box includes a portion of stave from the barrel in which the whiskey spent its life maturing. Each bottle is individually numbered and retails at €260.

The Celtic Whiskey Shop release was laid down in December 1996, also in a first-fill American bourbon barrel, and has been bottled at 46% ABV. This slightly lighter style offers green apples and banana on the palate. Just 270 individually numbered bottles have been made available, retailing at €225 each.

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard CEO Alex Ricard says: "Connoisseurs of fine spirits have always eagerly awaited the annual vintage release of Midleton Very Rare, and with these new single cask, single pot still expressions, we are giving consumers more opportunities to experience the wonderful whiskey complexities of Midleton. Due to their rarity, we expect a high amount of interest."

"We have enjoyed a close working relationship with The Celtic Whiskey Shop for many years, so we are pleased to be able to offer this rare whiskey as an exclusive to them. We also wanted to mark the opening of Terminal 2 in Dublin, which is great news for both tourism and business in the city, and this wonderful new single cask expression seemed like the perfect opportunity."

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