Since 1984, each Master Distiller of Midleton Very Rare uses their eye for detail, their passion for quality whiskey and their exemplary skill to create the pinnacle of Irish whiskey - Midletons special vintage release. The latest chapter of this renowned collection is adorned with the signature of their Master Distiller, Kevin O’Gorman. After months of exploration, O’Gorman crafted a balanced blend of rare and hand-selected single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys from Midleton’s exclusive inventory to create this truly special release. Matured in lightly charred ex-bourbon American oak barrels, the Midleton Very Rare 2023 Vintage Release delights with decadent flavours and a tantalising aroma. The aroma, taste and finish of this whiskey will enliven the palates of those new to this collection while taking the seasoned whiskey collector on a journey through an exciting exploration of taste. If history has taught us anything, it’s that no idea is new—but this idea, grown from an appreciation of what has come before, is a new take on an old legacy inspired by Midletons commitment for a greener future. The new secondary Midleton pack takes inspiration from the original cardboard box created for their first vintage in 1984. This original box ran from the inaugural year in 1984 until 1990. They were hard cardboard boxes lined with a beautiful golden fabric, while each bottle was 750ml topped by an old-style screw cap. In 1990 the bottle was changed to the new European regulation size of 700ml, while the oak boxes replaced the original cardboard cases. A metallic plate decorating the front of the box replaced the old, printed title on the cardboard boxes from the 1980’s. 2017 saw a new double-doored wooden box introduced, and a new bespoke bottle with the inclusion of the Midleton pen nib. Added to this, a new label adorned the bottle inspired by the original from 1984. 2023 completes the circle with the return of a more sustainable offering. The nose opens with an intricate medley of fruits including nectarines, ripe melon, green apple, and apricot. A solid foundation of pot still spices, showcasing notes of freshly peeled ginger and crushed peppercorns, work in tandem with the aged grain’s perfumed notes of dried flowers and delectable golden syrup. The oak continues to reveal itself, adding notes of vanilla, combined with a honeycomb sweetness and freshly roasted coffee beans. The palate is luscious at first with succulent fruits and a distinctive creaminess along with a herbal quality akin to camomile tea. The pot still spices add depth and intrigue as they weave amongst the floral grain qualities found lingering throughout. The charred oak’s influence continues to build over time creating additional complexity as the wood-derived spices complement the ever-present fruits of candied orange and dried apricot. On the finish the fruits and pot still spices build to a crescendo before giving way, leaving the final say to the oak tannins and antique grain whiskey.

The oldest core release in the Redbreast family is composed of Pot Still whiskeys which have been triple distilled, matured in the finest bourbon, sherry and ruby port casks for no less than 27 years. Bottled at cask strength 54.6% Alc./Vol.

Under the hustle and bustle of cobbled Dublin streets in the early 1900s, a rare whiskey was quietly making a name for itself. The simple act of marking barrels with spots of coloured paint would not only signify their age potential, but would become the namesake for this coveted whiskey, bonded and bottled by The Mitchells – a seventh generation family business. As a Single Pot Still Whiskey, these Spot Whiskeys are made using a unique combination of both malted and unmalted barley. This leads to that silky mouthfeel and the pot still spices that these whiskeys were so renowned for back in the old days. Rather than being simply a ‘finished’ whiskey, Yellow Spot is special in that it contains whiskey that has been matured for a full 12 year period in three oak cask types: American bourbon barrels, Spanish sherry butts, and uniquely, Spanish Malaga casks. The Malaga cask brings an exotic sweet note to the whiskey making it a truly delightful taste experience. Only extremely limited quantities of Yellow Spot have been bottled making it a whiskey to seek out and savour as a true rarity. While Green Spot is often described as tasting like green apples, Yellow Spot is more in character with juicy red apples. Sophisticated and complex in character, the inclusion of full term matured whiskey from ex Malaga casks contributes exotic characteristics to the whiskey. Aromas on mown hay & cracked black pepper. Red bell peppers, nutmeg, clove oil & green tea. Sweet honey & peaches from the Malaga casks. On the palate is a honey sweetness with pot still spices. Flavours of fresh coffee, creamy milk chocolate & Crème Brûlée. Notes of red apples & toasted oak. Its finish is sophisticated & complex with a sweetness throughout, followed by a mix of red grape & dry barley upon exit.

Bushmills Single Malt Whiskey 21 year old is aged for a minimum of 19 years in former Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon-seasoned casks, then transferred into Madeira casks for a further 2 years. The result is a whiskey awarded Best Irish Single Malt 2013. It has huge depth that interweaves dried fruit flavours with spicy, aromatic maltiness and subtle nutty raisins notes.

The Robin Redbreast is the only bird which sings continuously throughout the dark irish winners and is one of the very few small birds that choose to winter in Ireland. It is this enduring spirit which inspires its namesake, Redbreast Whiskey. When the world demanded lighter, more accessible whiskey styles, Redbreast stood steadfast in its belief of the tradition and significance of single pot still Irish whiskey. For the past century, Redbreast has been the standard bearer for this quintessentially Irish style of whiskey. Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in copper pot stills. Redbreast 12 displays the characteristic full and complex flavour of pot still whiskey, with the distinctive influence of pot still whiskey, which has been matured in sherry casks. The legendary sherried Redbreast style is a joy to behold in each and every bottle. This very special cask strength expression gives a rare glimpse of Redbreast 12 in its natural, full flavoured state. Tasting Notes Aroma - Succulent exotic fruit with a little citrus, complementing deeper notes of dried apricot and sultana. Infusion of pot still spices and toasted wood. Taste - Rich, fully rounded and mellow with luscious fruit and typical pot still oils and spices. Sweetness of vanilla and a touch of oak. Finish - Satisfyingly long with the sophisticated combination of fruit and spices slowly giving way to toasted oak, then barely.

Aromas are big and robust with a touch of treacle toffee and sweet spice. This whiskey is full boded, it's dominate by praline, honey and caramelised fruits and toasted nuts. The finish is deep and is jammed with berries and dark chocolate.

Dram in a Can is a World Award winning Irish Whiskey in 100ml can, containing a complex blend of Grain, Malt & Pot Still Whiskey. The Two Stacks Dram in a Can is the worlds first 43% whiskey in a can, serving the same great flavour profile and focus on quality spirit as the rest of our blended range. Perfect for on the move, out with friends or even just a solo dram in the great outdoors.

The Glendalough Distillery was established by a group of friends from Wicklow and Dublin who shared a deep passion for reviving the rich heritage of craft distilling in Ireland. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Ireland was home to over 200 licensed distilleries, producing diverse styles of poitín, whiskey, gin, and even absinthe. However, in recent times, that number has dwindled to a small handful. After many discussions, the friends decided to take a chance on something more meaningful and built a craft distillery near their favourite spot in the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough. The area, known as "the garden of Ireland," is renowned for its natural beauty and Glendalough, or the Glen of two Lakes, is one of the most visited valleys in Ireland. It is also home to a 6th-century monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin, a legendary monk who is the man on the Glendalough bottle. Monasteries like Glendalough were the birthplace of distilled drinks. A key influence on the flavour of Glendalough whiskey is the wood in which it has spent time. Countless nuances affect how the wood injects flavour, from the straightness of the tree or fineness of the grain to the size of the barrel or depth of the char. To make their gins, Glendalough forages wild plants from the mountains around the distillery. All the plants are sustainably foraged by one person, and what they pick goes fresh into the still within hours of foraging. The story of St. Kevin is where Glendalough draws its inspiration. He abandoned safety and comfort to follow his passion and create something more meaningful in the mountains. St. Kevin was born into Irish royalty, but he felt like a man apart. He disappeared into the mountains and became one with the wild, living off the land by the upper lake of Glendalough for seven years while pondering his place in the world. One of the many stories that spread around Ireland and inspired people to seek out this holy man and his deep, hidden valley is that of a blackbird landing in his hand. He stood day and night until the eggs hatched and the chicks fledged, showcasing his unwavering resolve and connection with nature. Eventually, he built his "City of 7 Churches" by the lower lake, which still stands 14 centuries later as a testament to his legacy. The Glendalough Distillery places great emphasis on the wood used to mature their whiskey, with countless nuances affecting the flavour, from the straightness of the tree or fineness of the grain to the size of the barrel or depth of the char. Their whiskeys mature in American white oak Bourbon barrels, which lay the flavour foundation that has become the backbone of the Irish whiskey taste. They also finish all of their whiskeys in a second, very different cask. They use Spanish Oloroso sherry butts to finish their Double Barrel, Dublin porter barrels for their 7-year-old single malt, and legendary Mizunara oak for their 13-year-old single malt. They are also proud to play a part in bringing Irish oak back into use for aging Irish whiskey, helping to manage these ancient forests, and doing their bit for the regeneration of these beautiful, broad-leaf, deciduous woods. Glendalough Distillery embarked on a relentless search for the most flavourful oak in the world, taking them from their own wooded mountains in Wicklow to the volcanic north of Japan, Hokkaido, where they discovered Mizunara, the most sought-after oak in the whiskey world. The resulting whiskey is vivid yet delicate, with seamless depth and a vibrant, fruity and floral nose. It boasts a luxuriously smooth mouthfeel with notes of dark chocolate orange, sandalwood and cinnamon that are synonymous with Mizunara whiskeys. The Mizunara 7-year single malt from Glendalough benefits from an exceptionally long finish of toasted oak and oriental spices, with the dark chocolate lingering even longer, making for a truly exceptional whiskey.

Tasting note: The entrancing bouquet is spicy, creamy yet fresh, all at the same time. One of the most textural and buxom Irish we’ve tasted: Oily, pithy then more cocoa-like towards the finish with a cascade of sweets suggested, ranging through dark chocolate to vanilla wafer and toasted marshmallow; the oak adds balancing grip, while the overall persistence is quite something as the oils sustain the aftertaste. Equally an Irish to savour with water, which brings another dimension highlighting fruits on the nose (fig, orange oils), as well as in the mouth. Almost like two whiskies in one. Superb. Non chill filtered. 46% Alc./Vol.

We secure more stocks at this special price! Expect to pay $120 to $160 elsewhere. This is the world's best whisky! Drinkstrade.com.au have reported that Redbreast 12 Year Old has won the World Whisky Trophy at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2019. The competition awarded Redbreast 12 an impressive 98 points, narrowly beating world whisky competitors from Australia, South Africa, Denmark, India, Taiwan and Switzerland, among many others. The judges said: “It starts with a gorgeous nose, a fantastic composition of aromas all complementing each other. Think of roasted coffee, toffee apples, malt and warm Christmas spices. The palate is bold but very elegant with a nice balance and all in order to a great finale with dried fruits, candied oranges and sweet spices.” For decades, serious whiskey drinkers drank Irish "blended" whiskey, mixing it with cola or adding a dash to coffee. But, John Hansell, editor and publisher of Malt Advocate magazine, says that's changing. "The line between Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky has become blurred," says Hansell, since Irish whiskey companies like Bushmills and Jameson have expanded their range to include deluxe whiskies from aged blends to pure pot stills and their own brand of single malts. "The top Irish whiskeys are just as good as many single-malt scotches. It's too bad more people aren't aware of how complex some of these whiskeys have become." Here's a case in point. From Irish Distillers Ltd, Redbreast is a 'Single' unblended, pure pot still Irish whiskey made with malted and unmalted barley which has been triple distilled. Our tasting found powerful, sensuous aromatics, at first reminiscent of creaming soda then vanilla wafer and sweet cereals enter giving this a Bourbon slant. The entry is soft and light. Mid palate turns deliciously creamy with semi-sweet, toasty cereals and brandy cream sauce flavours superbly counterpointed by spicy, drying oak. Finishes crisp and dry with terrific length as the vanilla wafer biscuit again emerges followed by a late creme-caramel fade. An Irish with soul and distinctive style, this also offers a mouthfeel that’s uncommon. Its lightness of body combined with depth of flavour make for a terrific aperitif. 40% Alc./Vol.