#Midleton dair ghaelach bluebell forest series#

Known for its cool summers and heavy rainfall, the climate of County Wicklow impacts the density and porosity of the oak.

#Midleton dair ghaelach bluebell forest series#

MidletonвЂ™s talented team, led by Master of Maturation Kevin OвЂ™Gorman, Master Cooper Ger Buckley and Master Blender Billy Leighton, set out to source sustainable Irish oak from estates throughout Ireland to produce a series of whiskeys, each with their own individual history and taste profile, that could be traced back to the specific tree from which the oak cask was made.ДЇor the third edition, the Midleton team selected the Knockrath estate in the ancient Vale of Clara where the oak has grown for more than 150 years amidst the landscape of mountains and lakes. The story of Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach, which translates as вЂIrish oakвЂ™, began over a decade ago when the Midleton Masters, ever keen to innovate and create unique and exemplary whiskeys, decided to explore the possibility of maturing Irish whiskey in native oak. A remarkable addition to the Midleton Very Rare story, the new expression has matured in barrels made from virgin Irish oak grown in Knockrath Forest, County Wicklow, reinforcing MidletonвЂ™s provenance and its standing as a true taste of Ireland. Irish Distillers, makers of some of the worldвЂ™s most enjoyed whiskeys, has introduced Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest, the third release in the Dair Ghaelach collection. Knockrath Forest Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey The only downside? Tracking down the perfect bottle just became a lot harder.Irish Distillers Unveils The Latest Chapter In The Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Story The variations imparted by each of those Irish oaks are subtle but distinct. Simply put, the Midleton experiment was a rousing success.

Tree 6 best conceals the strength-around 110 proof-of the whiskey and delivers sweet, crisp honeycomb flavors.Tree 5 is the most herbaceous, with hints of green garlic and a rye-like spice that finishes sweet.

Water introduces some marzipan and ginger notes.

Tree 4 is defined by flavors of dates, figs, and marmalade with pink peppercorns on the finish.

Stewed fruits, caramel, and sweet butterscotch prevail on the palate, with melon notes developing once drops of water are added.

Trees 2 and 3, by contrast, produces a whiskey that is darker in appearance and richer in taste.

Tree 1 delivers flavors of sweet cherries, honey, and black pepper, while a splash of water reveals vanilla and soft floral notes.

The liquid itself is composed of a number of classic Midleton distillates that had matured for 12 to 23 years in ex-bourbon casks-yet the 18 months of additional maturation in those Irish oak hogsheads has produced six subtly unique whiskies.

вЂњThe naturally sweet compounds found in Irish oak work in perfect harmony with this whiskey to deliver milk chocolate and honeycomb on the nose, a beautifully round and silky-smooth mouthfeel, and a long pot-still finish,вЂќ says OвЂ™Gorman. Subsequently, each bottle of this cask-strength whiskey, which costs $300, can be traced back to one of those Irish oaks-and that lineage is prominently displayed on the label. Each cask was made from the wood of just one of those trees. To make 29 hogshead casks, six oak trees-all 130 years old-were cut from the Bluebell Forest on the Castle Blunden Estate in County Kilkenny. This winter, a second installment-Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Edition-has reached retailersвЂ™ shelves. In 2015, Midleton unveiled its first Dair Ghaelach release ( Dair Ghaelach means вЂњIrish oakвЂќ in Gaelic), a whiskey that was finished in casks made from oak trees that were sourced from GrinsellвЂ™s Wood, a forest in County Kilkenny. These New Whisky Series Let You Taste Unreleased Single Malts From Highland Park, Bunnahabhian and More Inside the Most Exciting New Steakhouses in Las VegasД¬hinese Booze Dominates the Latest Ranking of the WorldвЂ™s Most Valuable Spirits