Midleton Very Rare, the flagship brand of Midleton Distillery (Irish Distillers, part of Pernod Ricard), launched Irish Chestnut Edition on 8 October, the first expression in its new Rare Wood Collection. The producer presents it as the first whiskey finished in casks made entirely from Irish sweet chestnut sourced from a single estate.
The wood comes from the Cappoquin Estate in County Waterford, where six chestnut trees were felled in 2017. The timber was naturally seasoned, coopered into casks in Spain and brought back to Ireland. Single pot still whiskeys, originally matured in bourbon barrels, were married and then finished for five years in these casks.
It is bottled at natural cask strength, 56.1%, and production is limited to 800 cases worldwide. The recommended price is €440. The official notes mention honey-drizzled red apple, caramelised orange peel, chocolate and woodland spices.
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Source: The Whiskey Wash