Midleton Very Rare Does A First Irish Whiskey Finished In Irish Sweet Chestnut Casks For Rare Wood Collection
Midleton Very Rare has introduced a new Irish whiskey finished entirely in Irish sweet chestnut casks, in what the house calls the world's first release matured in the native wood.
The Midleton Very Rare Irish Chestnut Edition is also the brand's first release in its new Rare Wood Collection, part of Midleton Very Rare’s broader effort to explore the influence of wood on whiskey.
The whiskey is a blend of Midleton Single Pot Still whiskeys that were initially matured in first-fill and refill bourbon barrels, before spending another five years in bespoke Irish sweet chestnut casks.
The project spanned nearly a decade in the making, a process which included the seasoning of the native timber, cask construction in Spain, and the final return of the wood to Ireland for maturation.
Midleton has said the whiskey contains notes of honey-drizzled red apple, caramelized orange peel, melted chocolate and toffee fudge, along with woodland spices and nutty flavors.
The special wood in question was sourced from Cappoquin Estate in County Waterford. Home to the Keane family since 1735, the sweet chestnut wood was harvested in 2017 from six native trees overlooking the Blackwater Valley.
Natural timber seasoning preceded traditional Spanish coopering to construct the final casks, after which they were filled with a blend of light, medium and heavy-style Single Pot Still whiskeys.
The use of chestnut made the aging a challenging process, as according to Midleton, sweet chestnut's high porosity compared to traditional oak accelerated liquid-to-wood interaction while significantly increasing maturation losses.
Bottled at 56.1% ABV, just 800 cases will be released globally, with an MSRP of €440 ($490). for each bottle
Kanpai
88 Bamboo Editorial Team
