Have you ever pondered the fate of whiskey barrels left in a distillery after its closure? In the instance of Ireland’s Old Midleton Distillery, which shut down in 1975 after over 200 years of operation, the leftover barrels were preserved by Irish distillers. These barrels were ultimately utilized to create the prestigious ultra-aged whiskey brand, Midleton Very Rare.

Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman has meticulously overseen these historic barrels for decades, allowing them to age before launching them annually in a series called the Silent Distillery Collection, beginning in 2020. The newest offering, Chapter Six, is said to contain “the very last drops” from the Old Midleton Distillery, an assertion O’Gorman emphasizes is not mere marketing. After the fifth release, he was left with only four barrels of whiskey distilled over 50 years ago. For this final release, he combined the contents of these four barrels into a new cask made from wood and staves of previous releases, letting it mingle for six months before bottling.

To complement the rarity of the whiskey, the release features lavish packaging, including a hand-blown Waterford Crystal decanter set in a case fashioned from rare Blue Birdseye Maple by Italian artisans. The craftsmanship involved in both the whiskey and the packaging highlights the extensive history and effort that went into this limited release.

The anticipation for tasting this extraordinary whiskey was palpable, particularly knowing that the two-ounce sample in hand held nearly $5,000 worth. Contrary to expectations of a dominated oak flavor from such an aged whiskey, Chapter Six surprised with a vibrant and nuanced profile. It opens with dried fruits and subtle oak, transitioning into lively peach and apricot flavors, finishing with hints of tobacco and leather. It showcases a complexity that speaks to its age without overwhelming intensity.

O’Gorman encapsulated the essence of this release by describing it as a masterpiece, embodying not just the whiskey but the exquisite design of its packaging. The limited availability of old distillery stock emphasizes the historical significance of what Chapter Six represents.

For those intrigued by aged Irish whiskeys but deterred by the steep price, the Midleton Very Rare vintage releases and their Dair Ghaelach series offer excellent expressions of quality whiskey at a more accessible cost.

For more information, you can explore the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection and their series for fantastic alternatives.