Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Release Arrives in U.S.

Midleton Very Rare has announced the U.S. availability of its 2026 Vintage Release, a blend of single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys produced at Midleton Distillery.

Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman and his team selected five whiskey styles for the blend: three single pot still whiskeys and two single grain whiskeys. The components come from casks held in Midleton’s warehouses, some of which date to the 1860s.

The 2026 release includes a batch of grain whiskey made from a mash bill of barley and malted barley, a style that also appeared in the 2025 Vintage. The component contributes notes of butterscotch and toffee, according to the company. The blend also increases the proportion of Midleton’s signature grain whiskey, adding floral and herbal notes, including rose petal and geranium, according to the company.

Older grain whiskeys aged in ex-bourbon barrels contribute notes of crème brûlée and milk chocolate. O’Gorman also adjusted the three single pot still components, increasing the proportion of lighter pot still whiskeys to bring forward citrus notes of lemon zest and orange peel. The changes also aim to emphasize the sweetness and mouthfeel associated with the distillery’s pot still whiskey.

“Each year, we hope to create a Midleton Very Rare Vintage that heroes the years of craftsmanship gone before while developing something rare, new and enticing for people to discover,” O’Gorman said. “As the sixth Vintage Release under my guardianship, I wanted to explore the bounds of what is possible from our array of exceptional liquids, while remaining true to the unique style for which Midleton Very Rare has become known. The final liquid offers a great depth of complexity, showcasing both the elegant, floral and herbal notes of grain whiskeys with the spicier, stone fruit notes from our single pot still whiskeys for a unique blend that is layered, elegant and distinctly Midleton.”

Midleton Very Rare debuted in 1984. The annual release draws from whiskey stocks that successive master distillers have set aside over more than four decades.

The 2026 Vintage comes in a presentation box with foil detailing and a friction-closure design. The packaging opens to reveal the bottle.

Midleton Very Rare 2025 and 2024 also remain available in the U.S., although availability varies by market and retailer. The 2025 release combines 22-year-old select batch special grain whiskey with 21-year-old grain whiskey. Its tasting profile includes sweet, floral and herbal notes alongside cinnamon, nutmeg and American oak, according to the company.

Bottled at 80 proof, the 2026 Midleton Very Rare Vintage has a suggested retail price of $240. It is available through U.S. retailers and the Midleton Distillery Collection.

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