Midleton Very Rare 2021

Perfect Irish Whiskey, shortbread, creme brulee forward with that finishes as good as it starts

Sweet nose, easy palate, easy finish. Floral, enjoyable.

First of all, what a beautiful box and presentation! The wooden case looks great and the fit of the bottle inside is precise, complete with a specific spot on the bottle to allow for the bottle to line up perfectly. Light golden in colour. Nose: Sweet vanilla and honey overlaying a crisp malty character. Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Rich and smooth with maybe a hint of clove following up. Fresh grains are present hinting at the Irish pleasures ahead. Palate: Despite a lower proof, this has a nice mouth feel. Flavours of apples and more vanilla. Very mellow start. Smooth and satisfying although this could go down far too easily! This sweet vanilla continues and starts to pick up the traditional, and anticipated, Irish flavors along the way. Just like meeting some old friends between your first pub and your second pub on a nice evening out. Finish: This is where the band starts to play and the party picks up. The array of flavours all come together and carry on through the night. Pepper, spices and fresh barley flavours dominate and allow this Irish character to shine. Medium to long, and as the grain notes fade, the vanilla background stays present Overall, a very enjoyable creation. I would have liked a higher abv in the range of 45-48%. I think this would have allowed some of the more subtle spice flavours to really shine, as well as increase and improve the finish even more. However, This whiskey is about as smooth and inoffensive as you could ask for, without being dull and uninteresting. The whole presentation adds to the drinking experience and it sure looks good on my shelf.