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13th October 2020 |
Review of the
Midleton Very Rare 2020, Master
Distiller Brian Nations parting gift to
fans of this premium Irish blended
whiskey.
 Irish Distillers today unveiled
their Midleton
Very Rare 2020 release which is incredibly the
37th annual release in this renowned series of
mature pot still rich Irish
blended whiskey's that was first
launched back in 1984.
The casks which go into the blend to
make up the annual Midleton Very Rare
releases are traditionally hand picked
by the Midleton Master Distiller and
with Midleton Master Distiller Brian
Nation having moved on after 23 years at
Midleton earlier this year you may have
wondered whose signature we were going to see
adorning the new Midleton Very Rare 2020
bottle.
Well it appears by way of a parting gift
Brian had already pre-selected the casks to go into the Midleton
Very Rare 2020 release before his
departure so it will be next year before
the newly appointed Master Distiller
Kevin O’Gorman imparts his stamp on the
premium annual Irish whiskey release.
I am told that for the 2020 vintage
Brian selected a blend of whiskey's
which have been aged between 13 to 35
years in lightly charred ex-bourbon
American oak barrels and that there is a
higher pot still inclusion in this years
release in comparison to previous vintages.
Brian has also increased the use of refill
barrels amongst his choice of casks. I
was also told that the contributing
grain whiskey in the blend comes from
the older end of the 13 to 35 years age
spectrum which is of no surprise as
grain whiskey is known to peak at 20
year plus.
Kevin O’Gorman, newly appointed Master
Distiller at Irish Distillers, and
long-time collaborator of Brian Nation,
commented on the new 2020 release,
saying: "As a colleague and friend to
Brian for many years, I could not be
prouder to present his final Midleton
Very Rare vintage and his legacy as
Irish Distillers’ Master Distiller, to
consumers across the globe.
"Selected each year with passion and
precision, this expression offers an
initial burst of tangy fruity sweetness
on the palate, with pot still spices
building over time to add a mild prickle
of chili oil. Indeed, Brian’s love of a
single pot still is reflected in this
exceptional whiskey, while preserving
the balance and beauty for which
Midleton Very Rare is renowned."
Those of you who look out for the
Midleton Very Rare vintage release each
year should note that they will not have
to wait too long to find out what newly
appointed Master Distiller Kevin
O’Gorman will offer them, as in a break
from tradition the annual vintage is to
be made available earlier in the year in
question and the Midleton Very Rare 2021
will be available in spring next year,
honouring a rare changing of the guard
at the iconic Midleton Distillery.
Meanwhile the new Midleton Very Rare
2020 which has been bottled at 40% ABV
is launching in Ireland now, and will
hit shelves in the UK, USA, Global
Travel Retail, Australia, Germany and
Canada in the coming months from this month at the RRP of £160/€180, you
will soon find it
available from specialist online whisky
retailers such as
The Whisky Exchange,
The Whisky Shop and
Master of Malt
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Midleton Very Rare 2020 Review
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William
Morrison's Tasting Notes:
Nose:
A little sweet vanilla icing sugar infused with a
touch of nutmeg, a touch of fresh pear,
a little lemon sherbert and some distant
orange. Some lovely gentle
pot still spices are lurking in the
background along with some
oak tannin reminding us the years
spent maturing.
Taste:
A mildly barley sugared fruit mix of
orange, lemon and pear leads then gives
way to the
some delicious mildly peppered pot still
spices along with some sweet mature
charred oak. Some late grapefruit
appears and leaves just as quick.
Finish:
The fruits hang in there for an age
before bowing out to leave
some lovely lingering oak and pot still
spices clinging to the palate.
Comment:
The pleasure about the Midleton Very
Rare annual vintage releases is that no
two years are 100% identical, this new
2020 release offers a delicious mix of
freshness and maturity, it is
obviously very closely related to the
outstanding 2019
release and if you enjoyed last years
release then you are sure to enjoy this
years as it is another outstanding
mature Irish pot still rich blend.
SMW Irish
Blended Whiskey Score
92/100
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