As part of the plan, Jameson’s Bow Street and Powers John’s Lane stills would fall silent, ending the era of whiskey distilling in Dublin, once the world’s greatest whiskey distilling city.

We then add our distilled water, which has been delivered all the way from the Degourney River in Midleton. When the Old Midleton Distillery in County Cork closed its doors in 1975, after 150 years in business, several casks of trial whiskey innovations disappeared with it. When we add water to whiskey, it just opens up the flavors and aromas,” explains O’Gorman. “In this case, it becomes more fruity, again those toffee fudge notes.” For Chapter One’s launch in February 2020, whiskey enthusiasts gathered from around the world in London’s Old Session House.The multi-layered finish rolls on for long moments. The spices wave their goodbyes, then the fruits, until you’re left to savor the toasted oak and barley. The Silent Distillery Collection is described by Midleton Very Rare as “a unicorn whiskey,” part of a series of innovation trials, never to be repeated and – after these few bottles are gone – never to be tasted again.

Since 1984, each Master Distiller of Midleton Very Rare uses their eye for detail, their passion for quality whiskey and their exemplary skill to create the pinnacle of Irish whiskey—our special vintage release. Finally, it was rested once again in a bourbon cask, until finally being deemed to have reached peak perfection by Midleton’s current master distiller Kevin O’Gorman. he whiskey was then married and recasked into refill bourbon casks. Years later, it was recasked into port pipes and once again laid down to acquire further depth and complexity.Matured in lightly charred ex-bourbon American oak barrels, the Midleton Very Rare 2023 Vintage Release delights with decadent flavours and a tantalising aroma. The aroma, taste and finish of this whiskey will enliven the palates of those new to this collection while taking the seasoned whiskey collector on a journey through an exciting exploration of taste. The latest chapter of this renowned collection is adorned with the signature of our Master Distiller, Kevin O’Gorman. After months of exploration, O’Gorman crafted a balanced blend of rare and hand-selected single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys from Midleton’s exclusive inventory to create this truly special release.

This time around, O’Gorman must guide us virtually on this séance with this most rare of spirits, presenting the tasting by video from Midleton Very Rare’s distillery grounds as we open our samples at home.From the time the new stills took up the baton until only very recently, the Midleton Distillery was the only source of traditional pure pot still Irish whiskey, for many is the quintessential style of Irish whiskey. It forms the heart of the Jameson and Power’s blends and can be experienced in all its glory in the likes of Redbreast, Green Spot and Yellow Spot.