Midleton Very Rare has unveiled Chapter 4 in its Silent Distillery Collection. The fourth edition celebrates the rich Irish earth, or ‘talamh’ in Irish when used to describe the earth beneath our feet.
Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter 4 emerged from the silent but not forgotten depths of the Old Midleton Distillery. The 48-year-old Irish whiskey was shepherded by Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman, who also worked on Chapter Three of this collection.
On the nose, the whiskey finds notes of chocolate dipped honeycomb with caramelized red apples and quince jelly. 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.
The palate delivers 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, balanced with the fruits and pot still spices, work in harmony with a suggestion of mature Roquefort cheese. The finish finds stone fruits and soft spices lingering with the oak tannins that quietly fade into the background.
The whiskey comes in a mouth blown decanter shaped by the specialist craftsmen and women of Ireland’s House of Waterford. Finished, etched, and polished by hand, their individual attention to detail means each decanter is subtly different.
Master craftsman John Galvin created the bespoke cabinets that the decanter comes in. Each cabinet is handmade by Galvin and his team from select lacewood, which looks to conjure up images of barley fields and recall the natural bounty that is at the heart of the 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.
Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter 4 is priced at €50,000. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.