The final whiskey we tasted during the event was the Middleton Very Rare. The Middleton distillery is Ireland’s largest producer of whiskey. It produces a wide variety of brands, including Jameson and Redbreast as well as the Green Spot. Middleton Very Rare was created for the high end market and and sold commercially for the first time in 1984. The whiskies used in the Very Rare are aged between 12 and 25 years in bourbon casks and finished in virgin oak. The whiskey is of the pot still variety and is bottled at 40% abv.
The whiskey is a bright yellow colour and resembles a banana liqueur.
The nose is big on banana a amidst a smattering of dried fruit. The scent was quite mouth watering, leaving me to take it in for quite a while before actually imbibing the liquid.
The palate evokes strong notes of pineapple and banana and memories of spice. This is a full flavoured whiskey with plenty of punch. Some sherry and honey support the feeling of enjoying something rare indeed and a whisper of chocolate raisin completes the experience.
The long finish includes pepper, spice, and mango.
A proper whiskey, one can obtain it for a mere $181 in Ontario at the LCBO and about $150 in New Hampshire. Unfortunately, this is not available in Quebec. It’s a very good whiskey, but at those prices there are finer products on the shelf.
Cheers!