Category: Midleton

Whiskies distilled at Midleton Distillery in Ireland

Review: Midleton Very Rare 2015

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Happy St. Patricks day whiskybois!

Paid: $170 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton / Pernond Ricard

Region: Ireland

40% ABV

Aged For: NAS, stated to be a blend of between 12 to 25 years

Mashbill: Undisclosed, blend of single pot still and grain whisky

Cask Type: Undisclosed but often bourbon or sherry

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Golden

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Honey and apples, cream, caramel, oak, cinnamon, pear, vanilla

Feel: Light bodied

Taste: Vanilla, cream, butterscotch, corn, earth, floral, wheat, and baking spices

Finish: Light warmth and medium length, milk chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, apples, honey, malt, grains, and floral.

Thoughts: There are no unpleasant off notes, and this is what your average whisky drinker would call “smooth”, because of this though the body and finish are a touch weak on an otherwise tastey dram.

Score: 80 out of 100

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B1/17

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

RB12 CS B1/17

Paid: $70 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton / Pernod Ricard

Region: Ireland

58.2% ABV

Aged For: 12 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted and unmalted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and sherry casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Graham crackers, honey, malt, stewed fruits, copper, vanilla

Feel: Rich and oily

Taste: Vanilla and graham crackers with honey, spices, with a bit of oak and leche

Finish: Medium warmth and length, honey, vanilla, grass, and oily pastries with powdered sugar.

Thoughts: The best quality to price Irish whiskey hands down, it throws off all of the restrictions that prevent most Irish whiskies from truly shining and is all the better for it.

Score: 86 out of 100

 

Redbreast 15

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Redbreast 15

Price: $80 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton (Irish Distillers) / Pernod Ricard

Region: Ireland

46% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted and unmalted barley

Aged For: 15 years

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and sherry casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Honey, peaches, citrus, biscuits, and earthy floral notes

Mouthfeel: Oily, medium body

Palate/Taste: Malty, with honey, cream, oak, vanilla, and again a touch of earth.

Finish: Medium warmth and length, with oak, vanilla, and bits of apple and pastry.

Thoughts: One of the more flavorful Irish whiskeys out there, but for less than the cost of this I’d say the 12 cask strength is the better buy.

Score: 85 out of 100

 

Green Spot Château Léoville Barton

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

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Price: $80 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton / Pernod Ricard

Region: Ireland

46% ABV

Mashbill: 100% barley (Malted and Unmalted)

Aged For: Estimated 7 to 12 years

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry, finished in French Oak Bordeaux Wine Casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Straw Gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Champagne, vanilla, fresh fruit, citrus, honey, apple

Mouthfeel: Oily

Palate/Taste: Very fruity, apple, lemon, blackberry, caramel, and oak

Finish: Warm and lingering, malt, cinnamon, oak, vanilla, and pears.

Thoughts: An excellent Irish offering with a nice oily, fruity, vanilla blend.

Score: 84 out of 100

 

Jameson Black Barrel

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Jameson Black Barrel

Price: $32 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Irish Distillers (Midleton) / Penrod Ricard

Region: Ireland

40% ABV

Mashbill: Blend of grain, single malt, and single pot still

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: Re-charred ex-bourbon barrels

Chill Filtered: Yes

Color Added: Yes

 

 

Color: Light amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Vanilla, oak, caramel, dried fruit, and honey

Mouthfeel: Watery

Palate/Taste: Astringent oak, honey, a bit of fruit, barrel char, malted barley, and vanilla

Finish: Medium warmth and length, lots of vanilla and caramel.

Thoughts: The re-charred barrels give this a more bourbon like character which improves the flavor from the regular offering, a bit weak palate wise, but decent.

Score: 78 out of 100

Jameson 12 Special Reserve

On By MajorHopIn Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Jameson 12

Price: $75 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton / Pernod Ricard

Region: Ireland

40% ABV

Mashbill: Potstill distilled Irish barley blended with grain whiskey

Aged For: 12 Years

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and sherry casks

Chill Filtered: Yes

Color Added: Yes

 

 

Color: Light gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Grain, vanilla, caramel, light fruit, alcohol burn, and citrus

Mouthfeel: Watery

Palate/Taste: Distinctive taste of copper and pot still palate. Vanilla, caramel, oak, and grains.

Finish: Short and gentle, cinnamon, caramel, and malted barley sugars.

Thoughts: Not too much of an improvement on the regular to be worth the increase in price, stick to Redbreast for your 12 year from Irish Distillers.

Score: 74 out of 100

Power’s Signature Release

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Powers-Signature-Release

A single pot still expression aged in mainly ex-bourbon barrels with a few Oloroso casks thrown into the mix. Triple distilled similar to many other Irish Whiskies.

Price: $40 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton / Pernod Ricard

Region: Ireland

46% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: 100% malted and unmalted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: Yes

 

 

Color: Golden

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Barley, copper, honey, pear, oak, apple, and grassy

Taste: Vanilla, cinnamon, more copper, coffee, a bit of raisin and apricot

Finish: Baking spice, oak, heather, and is surprisingly warm and lingering.

Thoughts: Overall not bad, one of the more enjoyable Irish expressions I have tried

Score: 80 out of 100

Tullamore D.E.W.

On By MajorHopIn 70-74, Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

tullamore dew

Another entry level Irish offering, this blend is triple distilled and is the second biggest seller behind Jameson.

Distilled/Owned by: Middleton / William Grant & Sons

Region: Ireland

40% ABV

Mashbill: Blend of malt and grain whiskies

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry

Aged For: Minimum 3 years

Chill Filtered: Not specified, but likely chill filtered.

Color Added: Also not specified

 

 

Color: Straw yellow.

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Honey, heather, pear and soggy cardboard.

Taste: Watery, with bits of fruit and a copper taste. Vegetal tones and malt sugar.

Finish: Short and gentle, slight fruit and banana. The metallic copper taste from the palate become even more present now.

Thoughts: Probably my least favorite of the entry level Irish offerings. Drinkable, but not very pleasant.

Score: 70 out of 100

Redbreast Lustau Edition

On By MajorHopIn Irish Whiskey, MidletonLeave a comment

Redbreast Lustau

Price: $75 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton / Pernond Ricard

Region: Ireland

46% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: 100% malted and unmalted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry, finished in Lustau sherry butts

Chill Filtered: Yes

Color Added: No

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

 

 

Color: Golden

Nose: Oily raisins, vanilla, oak, orange peel, and baking spices.

Taste: Has that oily single pot still mouthfeel. Dried fruits, vanilla, a bit of chocolate & mocha, with grape and citrus.

Finish: Fruity and sugary. Very gentle with little warmth. Bits of oak and caramel round out the finish.

Thoughts: A very fruity take on redbreast from the sherry butts, and a good oily mouthfeel.

Score: 82 out of 100

 

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B1/16

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Irish Whiskey, MidletonLeave a comment

Redbreast 12 CS B1/16

Price: $75 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton / Pernod Ricard

Region: Ireland

57.2% ABV

Aged For: 12 Years

Mashbill: 100% barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and Ex-Sherry

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

 

 

Color: Yellow Amber

Nose: Distinct pot still smell, dried fruits, vanilla, pear, raisin and oak. A bit of buttered pastry and coconut.

Taste: Thick and oily. Raisins, strawberry, and butterscotch. Copper, caramel and pear. Stays oily, sweet, and fruity.

Finish: Bit of spice and pepper, oak and caramel. Warm and lasting with a fruity linger. Certainly punches under its proof.

Thoughts: A major improvement on the standard 12 year, with much more flavor.

Score: 84 out of 100