Midleton 1984 20th Anniversary

Midleton Very Rare 2014

Back in March I reviewed the Midleton Very Rare 2013 bottling, scoring it a 91. The significant production difference in the 2014 bottling is the Master Distiller. The 2013 was Barry Crockett's last MVR (the annual release he started back in 1984); the 2014 is the first from his successor, Brian Nation. The colour is golden but with an orange hue...

Score 75/100

Midleton Writer's Tears

The amount of malted and unmalted barley in this blend of pure pot still whiskey and single malt whisky is a well-kept secret. It is triple distilled, as is Irish custom, and matured on bourbon casks. The names is explained, I was told, by the fact that this was the favorite whiskey of many 18th Century Irish writers. Today it is produced at...

Score 85/100

Midleton Very Rare

Smooth and easy to drink doesn't begin to describe this gem. Has a couple drams at a recent whisky tasting and this one knocked my socks off. So smooth, so clean, almost feminine, but oh so delicious. I say this is dangerous because I think this might be the most approachable, delicious, yet refined dram of whiskey I've ever had. A great way to...

Score 97/100

Midleton Clontarf Classic Blend

Clontarf Classic Blend is aged in bourbon barrels. There is no age statement on the bottle. Jim Murray reports that Clontarf Classic Blend was originally distilled at Cooley Distillery, but is more recently distilled at Midleton Distillery Nose: slightly sweet, some malt, citrus, honey Taste: very pleasant malt with some strong lemon and...

Score 85/100