Midleton Very Rare 2026 - Irish Whiskey
Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage
There are annual releases, and then there are annual events. Midleton Very Rare — now in its 43rd consecutive year — belongs firmly in the second category. Each vintage is a singular, unrepeatable act of blending, and the 2026 edition is no exception.
The 43rd annual release and the 6th Vintage under Master Distiller Kevin O'Gorman, the 2026 edition is built from five distinct distillate styles — three single pot still and two single grain Irish whiskeys — with components aged between 14 and 36 years. All are matured exclusively in American oak bourbon barrels, across a combination of first, second, and third-fill casks.
The recipe this year sees some deliberate and considered shifts. Increasing the lighter pot still parcels imparted enhanced delicate notes of citrus, lemon zest and orange peel, while the increase in the traditional pot still style gives a luscious sweetness and rich mouthfeel to the final liquid. A subtle increase in the proportion of Midleton's signature grain whiskey contributes floral notes of rose petal and geranium, alongside gentle herbal tones, while older grain parcels matured in ex-bourbon barrels contribute layers of crème brûlée and milk chocolate. One of those grain parcels — a select batch made from malted and unmalted barley, normally used in Jameson Black Barrel, has been aged for more than two decades, adding a distinctive butterscotch depth that anchors the whole blend.
In O'Gorman's own words: the aim was to explore what is possible while remaining true to the style. On the evidence of the 2026 vintage, he has done exactly that.
The Distillery
Midleton traces its story at the site in County Cork to 1825, when the distillery was acquired by the Murphy family, later becoming part of the Cork Distilleries Company. Warehouses on site date back to the 19th century, and it is here that successive Master Distillers have earmarked casks deemed exceptional enough to contribute to a future Very Rare bottling. The concept is deceptively simple: once a year, blend those casks into a vintage release that reflects the house style at its most refined. What makes Midleton remarkable is the breadth of what it produces under one roof — single pot still, single grain, and everything in between — giving each Master Distiller an extraordinary palette to work with. The pot still style in particular is a distinctly Irish tradition, using a combination of malted and unmalted barley to produce a whiskey of characteristic creaminess and spice that no other country in the world replicates.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Vibrant and fresh citrus aromas of orange peel and lemon zest, accompanied by delicate hints of soft apricot and orchard fruits, closely followed by sweet tones of crème brûlée and toffee. The influence of American oak enhances the overall structure, intertwining with pot still spices and the grain whiskey's floral notes of geranium and fresh herbs. Irishwhiskeymagazine
Palate: A rich assortment of luscious fruit notes at first, accentuated by the oak's soft tannins and generous servings of vanilla and cinnamon. Notes of peeled ginger and lemon zest create a fresh and crisp dynamic that complements the indulgent tones of butterscotch and toffee, while the quintessential mouth-coating nature of the pot still character remains constant throughout. Hard To Find Whisky
Finish: Pot still spices slowly fade, leaving the rich infusion of fruits and oak to linger until the very end. Long, graceful, and deeply satisfying. Irishwhiskeymagazine
Bottled at 40% ABV. Non-vintage age range: 14–36 years.