When I listen to the news, I listen selectively. My interests are narrow and unapologetic: Ireland, County Cork, and—when fortune allows—the next release of Midleton Very Rare.
J.B. Priestley once observed that man, aware of his own mortality and burdened with dreams larger than his destiny, requires an ally. Priestley chose tobacco. I chose Irish whiskey.
For the devoted Irish malt drinker, nature is not something to be conquered but communed with. A glass in hand, a decanter nearby, a warming measure in the bloodstream, and perhaps a miniature tucked discreetly away—these small assurances create a sense of equilibrium. In such moments, the world feels momentarily ordered. One feels grounded, enviable even, and quietly sane amid the surrounding noise.
Tradition, like whiskey, passes best from steady hand to steady hand. Just as Barry Nation honored Barry Crockett—creator of the inaugural Midleton Very Rare in 1984—so too has Kevin O’Gorman marked a respectful transition of custodianship. Following Nation’s departure from Irish Distillers after 23 years, O’Gorman assumed the role of master distiller and, in doing so, the responsibility of shaping one of Ireland’s most revered spirits.
His task was neither small nor symbolic. Drawing from the finest and rarest stocks available, O’Gorman hand-selected and blended whiskeys that speak not only to heritage, but to continuity. The result is a new Midleton Very Rare—composed of single pot still and single grain whiskeys aged between 13 and 36 years, matured in lightly charred, ex-bourbon American oak. With this release, the Very Rare collection enters its 38th edition.
The 2021 vintage—O’Gorman’s first—has now been unveiled. Bottled at 40 percent ABV, it is available in Ireland and online, with international releases to follow across the UK, the United States, Australia, Germany, France, and Canada. The recommended retail price stands at €180.
“It is a great honor to become the custodian of this extraordinary Irish whiskey family,” O’Gorman has said. “To have my signature on this vintage is something I do not take lightly.”
By elevating the grain whiskey contribution and working with a blend of first- and second-fill casks, he has crafted a whiskey of notable finesse—floral, perfumed, and quietly assured. It is a style that introduces a new dimension of elegance while remaining faithful to the character for which Midleton Very Rare is known.
The journey to this release, O’Gorman notes, began nearly four decades ago. Continuing the work of his predecessors proved both daunting and deeply rewarding, offering rare access to some of the distillery’s most exceptional casks and the opportunity to create a blend worthy of the name.
For Irish whiskey enthusiasts, news of a new Midleton Very Rare carries a particular magic. The world brightens, briefly. Life regains its shimmer. Such is the effect of great whiskey—especially when it comes from County Cork.
