Silent Distillery Collection Chapter One

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The first release from Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection is a peated Single Malt Whiskey which has been sublimely aged for 45 years. This incredibly rare Single Malt release captures the pioneering spirit of Old Midleton Distillery; a distillation from an extraordinary decade of experimentation and innovation.

February 2020 heralded the launch of the first release from Ireland’s oldest ever whiskey collection. Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection is a collection of six releases, the first of which is a 45-year-old Irish single malt. There will be one release annually until the year 2025, ranging in age from 45 to 50 years old, all from the fabled Old Midleton Distillery (operating 1825-1975). The last release will coincide with a historic event, Old Midleton Distillery’s 200th birthday.

When the spirit for Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter One was laid down in 1974 under Master Distiller Emeritus Max Crockett, a year before the closure of Old Midleton Distillery, it was part of a series of innovative trials never to be released or repeated. Crockett’s experimentation with peated single malt whiskey from 1964 to 1974 will come to light for the very first time through this release which paves the way for new beginnings in the world of ultra-rare, luxury Irish whiskey.

Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter One is the only release in this collection to have been created as a peated single malt – pure innovation for Irish whiskey at the time, and rare still today. Decades in the making, the third-fill sherry cask that has influenced this whiskey has been lying dormant for 45 years. This makes it one of the world’s rarest whiskeys by its very nature. The cask contributes notes of ripe honeydew melon, red berries and sweet spices of toasted oak.

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Emerging from the silence and created from the coming together of distillations that have matured to perfection over 48 years, Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter 4 delivers something old and something new; a contemporary expression of a time-honoured Irish whiskey, as unique as it is special.

The Decanter

As unique and as special as the whiskey itself is the glass decanter created to hold the prized liquid. Designed especially to celebrate this rare release, each one is mouth blown – a skill that dates back more than 200 years.

Once carefully shaped, the flowing lines of the design are refined by the specialist craftsmen and women of Ireland’s world famous House of Waterford. Finishing, etching and polishing by hand, their individual attention to detail means each decanter is subtly different but still exudes the artistry and brilliance that are synonymous with the Waterford name.

The Cabinet

Fusing fine craftsmanship and precision engineering, each cabinet is lovingly handmade by John Galvin and his team from select lacewood. With its iconic flecking of red and brown, the lacewood’s striking appearance conjures up images of barley fields and so recalls the natural bounty that is at the heart of our whiskey. To finish the cabinets are dressed in premium shagreen leather and enhanced by detailing in sterling silver and oak reclaimed from Irish whiskey vats.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Notes of chocolate dipped honeycomb with caramelised red apples and quince jelly. Luxurious aromas are enhanced by the sweetness of coffee cake and vanilla-scented cream, while earthy fragrances are matched by those of an antique, cedarwood cigar box. Dried flowers, that still carry delicate waves of a floral perfume, add to the array of flavours.

Taste

An explosion of fruits at first with fresh plums, peaches, and dried apricot. A hint of chilli oil and grated ginger follows. Delicate oak tannins, perfectly balanced with the fruits and pot still spices, work in harmony with a suggestion of mature Roquefort cheese. Floral and sweet grain whiskey add finesse, making this a wonderfully complex blend that is silk-textured and full-bodied.

Finish

Stone fruits and soft spices continue to linger for a time, with the oak tannins quietly fading into the background.