Midleton Very Rare, the Pinnacle of Irish Whiskey, Launches 2026 Vintage

Midleton Very Rare, the pinnacle of Irish whiskey, is proud to unveil Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Release. An extraordinary blend of the finest single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys Midleton Distillery has to offer, this year’s Vintage is a true reflection of Midleton Very Rare’s artistry, honouring the brand’s traditionally elegant flavour profile with a wonderful balance of distillate and wood-derived flavours.

Over the past four decades, each Master Distiller has set aside small amounts of exceptionally performing whiskeys to make each year’s Vintage. These hand-selected casks are housed in warehouses dating as far back as the 1860s. Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman and his team’s journey to create the 2026 Vintage began here.

Five distillate styles—three single pot still and two single grain styles—were carefully selected to create this year’s expression, including a select batch grain whiskey with a barley and malted barley mash bill that featured in last year’s Vintage. The inclusion of this style gives an enhanced butterscotch and toffee aroma.

The inclusion of Midleton’s signature grain whiskey has seen a subtle increase compared to last year, contributing floral notes of rose petal and geraniums, along with enhanced herbal notes. O’Gorman has included some incredible parcels of older grain whiskeys matured in ex-American Bourbon barrels, which build layers of crème brûlée and milk chocolate.

O’Gorman made very careful adjustments to the three single pot still elements this year. Increasing the lighter pot still parcels of whiskey imparted enhanced delicate notes of citrus, lemon zest and orange peel. The increase in the traditional pot still style gives a luscious sweetness and rich mouthfeel to the final liquid.

Marrying together this intricate combination of whiskeys showcases the artistry and mastery of those at the distillery, creating a finished liquid of elegance and finesse that sings together in harmony to showcase the very best of Midleton. Since its inception in 1984, Midleton Very Rare has defined what it means to create a truly exceptional blended Irish whiskey. A legacy of excellence and a celebration of Ireland’s rich distilling heritage, with an unparalleled dedication to quality, the Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Release honours decades of tradition.

Celebrating the launch of Midleton Very Rare 2026, Kevin O’Gorman shares: “Each year, we hope to share a Midleton Very Rare Vintage that heroes the years of craftsmanship gone before whilst creating something rare, new and enticing for people to discover. 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.”

Following the removal of magnets, the MVR 2026 Vintage Release will be housed in a recyclable secondary box made entirely from paper*. Adorned with elegant foil details, the box features a new friction closure, gliding open for a stunningly proud finish.

Midleton Very Rare 2026 is bottled at 40% ABV and will be available from 4th March, initially in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Australia, Irish and global travel retail, and Irish Distillers’ brand homes, at the RRP of €240, $240, £220, and in additional European & US markets from April.

#MidletonVeryRare2026

#PinnacleofIrishWhiskey

IG: @MidletonVeryRare

Shop online at Midleton Distillery Collection

*Recyclable in Ireland and other markets where recycling facilities are available

Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage tasting notes

Nose: Vibrant and fresh citrus aromas of orange peel and lemon zest accompanied by delicate hints of soft apricot and orchard fruits. These delectable fruit notes are closely followed by sweet tones akin to crème brûlée and toffee. The influence of the American oak enhances the overall structure and character of this aged and complex whiskey, intertwining effortlessly with the pot still spices and grain whiskey’s floral influence of geraniums and fresh herbal notes.

Taste: A rich assortment of luscious and mouthwatering fruit notes at first, accentuated by the oak’s soft tannins and generous servings of vanilla and cinnamon. Notes of peeled ginger and lemon zest create a fresh and crisp dynamic that complements the indulgent tones of butterscotch and toffee, while the quintessential mouthcoating nature of the pot still character remains constant throughout.

Finish: The pot still spices are the first to slowly fade, leaving the rich infusion of fruits and oak to linger until the very end. This intricate combination of pot still and grain whiskeys aged in seasoned oak creates a harmonious marriage that showcases the very best of Midleton.

-ENDS-

*Recyclability is market dependent

Notes to the editor:

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers, a Pernod Ricard company, is a producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys and Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits.

Led by Jameson, our Irish whiskeys are driving the success of the category globally. Jameson, crafted for smoothness at the Midleton Distillery, is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, a top 3 international whiskey brand and a top 10 international spirits brand*. Our Midleton Distillery whiskeys are exported to 130+ markets around the world.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son, and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network.

In 2025, Midleton Distillery was named ‘Most Awarded International Distillery’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and celebrated 200 years of distilling excellence.

We employ over 800 people across our operations in Cork, Dublin and Northern Ireland.

*IWSR Report 2024

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and wine industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand-building, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands includes Absolut vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes. Our mission is to ensure the long-term development of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive, and responsible culture of authentic conviviality. Pernod Ricard’s consolidated sales amounted to €11,598 million in fiscal year FY24.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.