Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage arrives

The arrival of Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage is a big one for Irish whiskey fans. Heck, whiskey fans in general.

For collectors, this drop is a yearly ritual. For everyone else, it is simply a very good excuse to drink something carefully assembled from some of the best casks resting at Midleton Distillery. Like you needed one, you little scamps.

Each vintage pulls together small parcels of exceptional whiskey set aside in the warehouses over decades. It’s tasty stuff. Let’s meet the 2026 edition.

What’s actually in Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage?

The 2026 Vintage blends five distillate styles in total: three single pot still and two single grain whiskeys.

The grain whiskey plays a slightly bigger role this year, and we’re told it brings floral notes of rose petal and geranium, alongside some indulgent crème brûlée and milk chocolate character from older bourbon casks.

Meanwhile, the pot still elements do what pot still whiskey does best. Think citrus peel, gentle spice, and that classic creamy mouthfeel.

One particularly interesting component is a grain whiskey made from barley and malted barley, a style that first appeared in last year’s vintage and returns here with plenty of butterscotch and toffee.

Same philosophy, slightly new box

Midleton Very Rare has been released every year since 1984, with each master distiller leaving their fingerprint on the series. The job is simple in theory and terrifying in practice: create something new without messing up a style people already love.

O’Gorman’s approach with the 2026 edition leans toward balance and brightness, letting citrus, floral grain notes, and pot still spice work together rather than fighting for attention. He’s hitting that mark of changing each year enough to make things interesting, while still tasting unmistakably like Midleton Very Rare. I think he’s a very, very fine whiskey maker, and I like the direction he’s taken these releases.

Even the packaging has had a tweak. The presentation box now ditches magnetic closures in favour of a fully recyclable paper design, proving luxury whiskey can still tidy up after itself.

When can you get it?

Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage is bottled at 40% ABV and will be available from Master of Malt soon. Keep an eye out, this blog will be updated with a shiny buy button (a new feature, cool, right?).

Recommended retail price sits around £220. Which sounds steep until you remember people happily pay that for trainers they will spill lager on. That isn’t a personal anecdote. Promise…

Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage producer tasting notes:

Nose: Orange peel and lemon zest lead, followed by apricot, orchard fruit, crème brûlée, and toffee with floral hints and fresh herbs.

Palate: Creamy pot still texture with vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, citrus zest, and rich butterscotch sweetness.

Finish: Pot still spice fades slowly into lingering fruit and seasoned oak.