Oldest Single Pot Irish Whiskey In History Hits the Market at $60,000

(Photo: Midleton)

On Friday, the Irish whiskey giant behind Jameson, Redbreast and Powers unveiled the sixth and final release in its Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection — a 50-year whiskey priced at an astounding €60,000, £55,000 or $60,000.

Purportedly the oldest single-pot Irish whiskey ever released to the public, the spirit was initially aged in ex-bourbon American oak before being transferred to a bespoke cask crafted from the five previous Silent Distillery releases.

All of that’s to say, the whiskey has been a long time in the making. First debuted in 2020 with a 45-year age statement, the Silent Distillery series has since released on an annual basis with a 46-, 47, 48-, and 49-year whiskey.  The 50-year promises to be the last.

The historic Old Midleton Distillery operated from 1825 to 1975 in County Cork, Ireland. Though the grounds now live on as a museum and visitor center that receives some 100,000 guests per year, it’s been exactly half a century since Old Midleton produced its last drop of whiskey. Referencing the release of Silent Distillery Chapter Six, a news release ominously remarks that Old Midleton is “now silent forever.”

“From the characteristics of the now incredibly rare single pot still distillate style created back in Old Midleton, to the 50-year maturation process under the care of my predecessors and I, to a one-of-a-kind final marrying, this whiskey has been looked after like no other,” master distiller Kevin O’Gorman remarked in a news release. “Max, Barry, Brian, Ger and I, alongside the Midleton Distillery family past and present, have been a team over many decades, protecting and nurturing this liquid to achieve its peak.” 

The expression is bottled at 53% ABV and is said to pack decadent aromas of dark fruits, malted barley and forest honey alongside a palate of peaches, nectarines, oak tannin and raisins.

As is always the case for spirits in the 5-figure-and-up price range, the bottle is intended as a work of art in its own right. Each decanter was individually mouth-blown, hand-finished and etched at the House of Waterford, a crystal glassware manufacturer that dates its roots back to 1783. Decanters are then placed inside a wooden cabinet designed by Irish master craftsman John Galvin, arguably the most prolific casemaker in the modern spirits industry. He’s previously worked on glitzy, immaculately polished cabinets for the likes of The Glen Grant, Highland Park, Bowmore and Fettercairn.

Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six Tasting Notes, Via the Brand

Nose: “Opens with decadent notes of dark fruits and malted barley drizzled with forest honey. Earthy aromas of dried tobacco leaves combine with worn leather and antique oak to produce an intricate assortment of flavours that recalls five decades of ageing to perfection. Burnt orange peel and grated ginger deliver vibrant crisp notes alongside subtle hints of black truffle, cocoa aromas and mild nutty undertones.”

Taste: “Stone fruit notes to the fore with flavours of peaches and nectarines. Indulgent notes of treacle and whiskey-soaked raisins build over time. Oak tannins work gently in harmony with the pot still spices giving balance to the rounded and luscious texture of this wonderfully complex whiskey. ”

Finish: “Exquisitely long finish that showcases the range and spectrum of flavours ranging from crisp, elegant and sweet notes to the rich, earthy and oak driven nature of this timeless liquid.”