Midleton Very Rare has unveiled Forêt de Tronçais. The small batch release marries the pinnacle of Irish whiskey with oak from the forest of Tronçais in France.
Midleton Very Rare Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman takes the exceptional whiskey we all love from Midleton Very Rare and finishes it in T5 casks, adding a special difference to this release and making it a first of its kind. Located in Allier, Auvergne in France, Forêt de Tronçais is well-known within the whiskey community. Originally its oaks were planted by Louis XIV’s minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert to supply the French Navy, and the principal trees within the forest are sessile oak, whose ancient name in French, “tronce,” gave its name to the district.
These speciality oaks that are the namesake of this release are created by the Taransaud Cooperage. Back in 1672 the first member of the Taransaud family became a cooper and in the centuries since, the brand has become known for its impressive craftsman ship.
“We may have created ‘the pinnacle of Irish whiskey’ with Midleton Very Rare, but we are constantly driven by the desire to push boundaries and create something new,” said O’Gorman. “Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais represents our relentless pursuit of perfection and innovation while staying true to the unmistakable Midleton character and DNA, as we introduce some of the world’s finest oak to produce an outstanding and elegant Midleton expression.”
The Taransaud cooperage monitored the natural air drying of the T5 oak staves for five years in preparation for its use by Midleton Distillery.
Jacquelin de Pracomtal, vice-president at Taransaud, added: “We are immensely proud to be part of this historic collaboration that showcases the utmost rarity and excellence in both Irish whiskey and French coopering. Our dedication is reflected in each T5 oak cask that was used to infuse the whiskey with its distinct characteristics.”
Bottled at 48% ABV, the first edition of Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais will be available in select markets including Ireland, the US, Northern Ireland, global travel retail, France, the UK, China, Hong Kong, and online for $5,000 USD per bottle. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
Back in May, Midleton Very Rare unveiled Chapter 4 in its Silent Distillery Collection.