Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Release unveiled
Midleton Very Rare has announced the release of its 2026 Vintage, the 43rd annual release in the series and the sixth vintage under the watch of Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman.
As with previous releases, the 2026 Vintage is presented as a blend of some of the finest single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys available to Midleton Distillery. According to the distillery, this year’s release is intended to stay true to the traditionally elegant Midleton Very Rare style, while balancing distillate character with wood influence.
The 2026 Vintage was created from five distillate styles in total, comprising three single pot still styles and two single grain styles. Among them is a select batch of grain whiskey made with a barley and malted barley mash bill, a style that also featured in last year’s Vintage and is said to bring enhanced butterscotch and toffee aromas.
Midleton says there is also a subtle increase this year in the inclusion of its signature grain whiskey, which contributes rose petal, geranium, and fresh herbal notes. In contrast, older grain whiskeys matured in ex-American bourbon barrels add layers of crème brûlée and milk chocolate.
On the pot still side, Kevin O’Gorman has made what the distillery describes as careful adjustments to the three pot still elements. Increasing the lighter pot still parcels is said to lift more delicate notes of citrus, lemon zest and orange peel, while the increase in the traditional pot still style adds sweetness and a richer mouthfeel to the final whiskey.
In the press release marking the launch, O’Gorman said that with this being the sixth Vintage Release under his guardianship, he wanted to explore the boundaries of what could be achieved from Midleton’s range of mature whiskeys while remaining true to the house style for which Midleton Very Rare is known. He described the final whiskey as showing depth and complexity, combining the elegant floral and herbal notes of grain whiskey with the spicier, stone-fruit character of single pot still whiskey.
Since its first release in 1984, Midleton Very Rare has been built around the idea that each Master Distiller would set aside small amounts of particularly exceptional whiskey for use in future vintages. According to the press release, those casks are housed in warehouses dating back to the 1860s, and it was there that the journey towards the 2026 Vintage began.
The official Midleton tasting notes for the 2026 Vintage Release are as follows.
Nose
Midleton describes the nose as opening with vibrant, fresh citrus aromas, led by orange peel and lemon zest, alongside delicate hints of soft apricot and orchard fruits. These are followed by sweeter notes described as crème brûlée and toffee. The influence of American oak is said to add structure and character, complementing the pot still spices, the floral notes of geranium, and the fresh herbal tones of the grain whiskey.
Taste
On the palate, Midleton says the whiskey delivers a rich mix of lush fruit notes, supported by soft oak tannins and generous helpings of vanilla and cinnamon. Peeled ginger and lemon zest bring a fresher edge, while butterscotch and toffee add sweetness and depth. The distillery also notes that the familiar mouth-coating nature of the pot still character remains present throughout.
Finish
According to Midleton’s own notes, the pot still spices are the first to fade, leaving the fruit and oak influence to linger. The overall effect is described as a harmonious marriage of pot still and grain whiskeys aged in seasoned oak, intended to showcase the Midleton style at its best.
Midleton Very Rare 2026 is bottled at 40% ABV and was due to be available from 4th March, initially in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Australia, Irish and global travel retail, and through Irish Distillers’ brand homes, at a recommended retail price of €240, $240 and £220. Additional European and US markets were due to follow from April.
The release also marks a packaging change. Following the removal of magnets, Midleton Very Rare 2026 is presented in a recyclable secondary box made entirely from paper, finished with foil detailing and a new friction closure.
I understand that bottles purchased directly through Midleton’s website can also be engraved personally for €15, making them an attractive option as either a unique gift or a collector’s piece.
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Stuart McNamara (@WhiskeyBlogger) is an international Whiskey Blogger who edits several International Whisk(e)y and Whiskey Tourism sites including IrishWhiskey.com and WhiskeyBlogger.com. Holding a Post Graduate Diploma with Distinction in the Science of Brewing and Distilling from Technological University Dublin, he has served as Chair of the Irish Craft And Artisan Distilleries Association (ICADA) and is an elected member of the National Council of ISME, the Irish SME Association. He is also the creator and editor of International Irish Whiskey Day which is celebrated on 3/3 or 3rd March each year and had a global social media reach in 2021 of over 20 Million. He is a Director of Portmagee Whiskey and has also acted as both a brand and product development consultant to several other Irish Whiskey and other spirits producers.
