Midleton unveils new Very Rare Silent Distillery whiskey

Midleton Very Rare has unveiled the Third Chapter in its rare, highly aged Silent Distillery collection. 

Chapter Three is a 47-year-old whiskey comprising liquids matured in two casks, an ex-sherry butt and an ex-bourbon barrel, which were blended before bottling. The expression is inspired by the element of fire in whiskey production, in particular the fires that powered the pot stills on which it was made.

Created by Ireland's Midleton Distillery, the Silent Distillery collection launched in 2020 with six chapters in total to be released up to 2025 - Midleton Distillery's 200th anniversary. Ranging in age from 45 to 50 years, the liquids in this collection were some of the last distilled at the Old Midleton Distillery before it was shuttered in 1975.

Kevin O'Gorman, Midleton Distillery master distiller, said: "Crafted from a marriage of distillations left to mature over 47 years in a hand-selected bourbon barrel and a sherry butt, Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter Three is a wonderfully aged yet contemporary expression of Irish whiskey like no other.

"This year the inspiration of fire came from the world's largest pot still and the relentless work from the local men, the 'fire men', who used to feed the still's fires, whilst learning how to regulate the heat through stoking and raking to ensure the temperature was correct."

Just 97 bottles of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter Three will be available. It is presented into hand-blown, etched and individually numbered crystal decanter bottles, produced by Ireland's Waterford Crystal. The bottle comes in a bespoke wooden cabinet, composed of burr elm, from Irish designer John Galvin.

Galvin said: "Midleton Distillery embodies Irish heritage and this new chapter based around the element of fire inspired our team when sourcing materials and designing the cabinet for the bottle."

Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter Three (55.7% ABV) will be available to purchase via a ballot on the Midleton Very Rare 1825 room, which runs from 3-10 May. The whiskey will also be available to sample at an event at Adare Manor Hotel on 29 November, 2022 - contact dining@adaremanor.com for more information.

29 April 2022 - Bethany Whymark