Midleton Very Rare - the Pinnacle of Irish Whiskey - Launches 2026 Vintage

Midleton Very Rare, widely regarded as a pinnacle of Irish whiskey craftsmanship, announces the U.S. availability of its 2026 Vintage Release. An exceptional blend of the finest single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys from Midleton Distillery, this year’s Vintage reflects the brand’s signature elegance, balancing the character of the distillate with the nuanced flavors imparted by oak maturation.

For more than four decades, successive Master Distillers have set aside small quantities of exceptional whiskeys to create each annual Vintage. Carefully selected casks are aged in historic warehouses, some dating back to the 1860s. It was here that Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman and his team began the journey to craft the 2026 Vintage.

Five distinct whiskey styles - three single pot still and two single grain - were selected for this year’s blend. Among them is a specially selected batch of grain whiskey made from a mash bill of barley and malted barley, a style also featured in the 2025 Vintage. Its inclusion brings added depth to the aroma, with inviting notes of butterscotch and toffee.

The blend also features a subtle increase in Midleton’s signature grain whiskey, contributing delicate floral notes of rose petal and geranium, alongside enhanced herbal character. Older grain whiskeys matured in ex-bourbon barrels add further layers of complexity, bringing notes of crème brûlée and milk chocolate.

O’Gorman made precise adjustments to the three single pot still components, increasing the proportion of lighter pot still whiskeys to accentuate delicate citrus notes of lemon zest and orange peel. A greater emphasis on traditional pot still character also lends the finished whiskey a luscious sweetness and rich, rounded mouthfeel.

Together, these carefully balanced components showcase the artistry and expertise of the Midleton team, resulting in a whiskey defined by elegance, finesse, and harmony. Since its debut in 1984, Midleton Very Rare has established a distinctive legacy in premium Irish whiskey, celebrating Ireland’s rich distilling heritage through an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and quality. The 2026 Vintage continues that tradition while offering a fresh expression of the distillery’s exceptional whiskey stocks.

Reflecting on the release, Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman shares: “Each year, we hope to create a Midleton Very Rare Vintage that heroes the years of craftsmanship gone before while developing something rare, new and enticing for people to discover. As the sixth Vintage Release under my guardianship, I wanted to explore the bounds of what is possible from our array of exceptional liquids, while remaining true to the unique style for which Midleton Very Rare has become known. The final liquid offers a great depth of complexity, showcasing both the elegant, floral and herbal notes of grain whiskeys with the spicier, stone fruit notes from our single pot still whiskeys for a unique blend that is layered, elegant and distinctly Midleton.”

The 2026 Vintage is presented in an elegant box featuring refined foil detailing and a new friction-closure design that glides open to reveal the bottle in a striking presentation. It’s bottled at 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available in the United States at a suggested retail price of $240.

In addition to the 2026 Vintage, Midleton Very Rare 2025 and 2024 are available nationwide. The 2025 vintage showcases a rare blend of 22-year-old select batch special grain and 21-year-old grain whiskey, delivering layers of sweet, floral and herbal notes balanced by warming cinnamon, nutmeg and rich American oak. The 2024 vintage offers an elegant expression of orchard fruits, vanilla and honey, complemented by pot still spices and nuanced oak. Silky and luscious, it finishes with notes of tropical fruit, crème brûlée, toffee and chocolate-dipped honeycomb. Equally exquisite, availability may vary by market and retailer.

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Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage tasting notes

Nose: Vibrant and fresh citrus aromas of orange peel and lemon zest accompanied by delicate hints of soft apricot and orchard fruits. These delectable fruit notes are closely followed by sweet tones akin to crème brûlée and toffee. The influence of the American oak enhances the overall structure and character of this aged and complex whiskey, intertwining effortlessly with the pot still spices and grain whiskey’s floral influence of geraniums and fresh herbal notes.

Taste: A rich assortment of luscious and mouthwatering fruit notes at first, accentuated by the oak’s soft tannins and generous servings of vanilla and cinnamon. Notes of peeled ginger and lemon zest create a fresh and crisp dynamic that complements the indulgent tones of butterscotch and toffee, while the quintessential mouthcoating nature of the pot still character remains constant throughout.

Finish: The pot still spices are the first to slowly fade, leaving the rich infusion of fruits and oak to linger until the very end. This intricate combination of pot still and grain whiskeys aged in seasoned oak creates a harmonious marriage that showcases the very best of Midleton.

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About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and wine industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand-building, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands includes Absolut vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes. Our mission is to ensure the long-term development of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive, and responsible culture of authentic conviviality. Pernod Ricard’s consolidated sales amounted to €11,598 million in fiscal year FY24.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code:FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers, a Pernod Ricard company, is a producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys and Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits.

Led by Jameson, our Irish whiskeys are driving the success of the category globally. Jameson, crafted for smoothness at the Midleton Distillery, is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, a top 3 international whiskey brand and a top 10 international spirits brand*. Our Midleton Distillery whiskeys are exported to 130+ markets around the world.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son, and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network.

In 2025, Midleton Distillery was named ‘Most Awarded International Distillery’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and celebrated 200 years of distilling excellence.

We employ over 800 people across our operations in Cork, Dublin and Northern Ireland.

*IWSR Report 2024