Midleton Very Rare Unveils Irish Chestnut Cask Finish

Debut of the Rare Wood Collection: Expanding Flavor Dimensions with a Five-Year Special Cask Finish

Midleton Very Rare, the prestigious range from renowned Irish distillery Midleton, has announced the launch of its new Rare Wood Collection, spearheaded by its inaugural release: Midleton Very Rare Irish Chestnut Edition. This single pot still Irish whiskey marks the first in its category to be finished entirely in Irish sweet chestnut casks, with a global allocation of approximately 800 cases.

From Bourbon Cask to Sweet Chestnut: Bottled at 56.1% Cask Strength

This expression is bottled at a cask strength of 56.1% ABV. The blend incorporates light, medium, and heavy single pot still distillates, originally matured in first-fill and refill bourbon barrels before being transferred into custom Irish sweet chestnut casks for a secondary maturation lasting 5 years. The porous structure of Irish sweet chestnut allows for faster interaction between liquid and wood, but also accelerates evaporation—yielding an Angel's Share loss of roughly 29% over the 5-year finishing period.

Official Tasting Notes & Flavor Profile

According to official tasting notes, the nose reveals honeyed red apples, candied orange peel, toffee fudge, and warming spices. The palate delivers sweet orchard fruits, touches of citrus zest, rich vanilla, chocolate, and subtle wood tannins, all interwoven with signature pot still spice. The finish lingers with sustained fruit notes before transitioning to pot still spices and the unique, structured oak-and-chestnut wood character.

Kevin O'Gorman, Master Distiller at Midleton, explained that the team had long aimed to venture beyond traditional oak to explore the fresh dimensions special woods can bring to luxury whiskey—a quest nearly a decade in the making. He noted that sweet chestnut imparts unprecedented richness, texture, and complexity, capturing Irish terroir, craftsmanship, and maturation patience.

Historic Estate Sourcing and Coopering Craft

The chestnut was sourced from Cappoquin Estate in County Waterford, stewarded by the Keane family since 1735. Sir Charles Keane remarked that his family has cherished and protected these woodlands for generations, taking great pride in seeing rare sweet chestnut trees become part of this historic whiskey. After careful harvesting in Ireland, the timber was shipped to Spain for natural air-seasoning and coopering, then returned to Ireland to receive and mature the whiskey.

📅 Publication Date: 2026-10-08

🔗 Source: The Spirits Business