islay_emissary
Midleton Very Rare 2018
Blended — Ireland
Reviewed
November 29, 2019 (edited February 16, 2024)
Reader Beware; whiskey review starts at paragraph two. The following is a golfing blueprint of southwestern Ireland for the benefit of my buddy and whisky guru, @LeeEvolved, who might someday make this trip. Where the odds of dying in a plane crash are 1 in 11 million, I can assure you they drop to 1 in 11 when driving the back roads of southern Ireland. Lee should keep these figures in mind when calculating his odds of venue survival. After spending 3 nights in Ennis and golfing 3 courses (Dromoland Castle, Lahinch, & Trump’s Doonbeg) we moved on to the lively village of Tralee, county town of County Kerry. From here we would cover another 5 links courses in 5 days (Ballybunnion’s Old Course & Cashen Course, Dooks GC, Dingle GC, and Tralee GC). The most impressive tracks from these groupings were the 2 courses of Ballybunnion with several others not far behind. The trip culminated with another move to the spirited town of Killarney. From this location we tackled the most picturesque leg of our journey with rounds at Waterville Golf Links on the Ring of Kerry and Old Head Golf Links of Kinsale. The course at Old Head was sculpted only 20 years ago on its cliffy headland that stretches 2 miles into the Atlantic, but it also hosts ruins dating back many centuries. A golfing nirvana, this was the highlight of the trip.
Our tasting of Midleton Very Rare took place at the Pikeman Bar in Tralee‘s Grand Hotel. Unfortunately, this venerable setting wasn’t sufficient enough in raising the grade of this 2018 vintage. First released in 1984, this was the 35th iteration of a blend consisting of single pot still and single grain whiskies aged in ex-bourbon casks for 12 to 28 years. Each year the vintage can vary with 2019 an ex-bourbon aged from 13 to 34 years. Jim Murray has rated 32 of these releases with an average rating of only 84.6. Of this lot, he graded 8 in the lowly 70’s and only 6 in the lofty 90’s, with 95 being the highest grade. All of the offerings have been delivered at a consistent 40% ABV, and Murray’s meager reporting has done little to induce Midleton to up the ante. A pleasant and subtle nose brought hints of sweet vanilla, oak and spices, but lacked the ethanol punch capable of coining a description higher than “adequate.” Incredibly smooth on the palate, this was the whiskey’s signature attribute, but not uncommon amongst Irish blends and single pot stills. Drinkability is certainly a noble quality, but for 22 Euro a proper measure pour (35.5ml), we were expecting something more. On the palate, add pepper and citrus to the above formula and there you have it. An excellent whiskey; this one barely rings the bell at 4 stars.
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@clarkebar - wow, that’s a great one to grab. I’ve given up trying to snag it at auction. Don’t be a stranger. I miss the wit. :)
Hello @Rick_M - Have been a tad busy lately but great to see the water of life is still flowing in abundance around here. Always a treat to read about trips I'll likely never take. Appreciated your review a good deal and truth be told any whiskey at 80 proof is lucky to get a 4 from your discerning taste buds, no matter the cost or how close the call. As to the liquor cabinet, I guess the only true claim to fame there is the Col. E. H. Taylor Four Grain I snagged from a PA Liquor Lottery last year at stock price. That's about as exotic and highly rated as it's ever likely to get for this Gettysburg retiree. LOL!
@Clarkebar - good to hear from you. Sounds like you’ve upgraded your liquor cabinet. :)
@Rick_M - Sorry I'm so late to the party. So much to catch up on. I see @PBMichiganWolverine and @Generously_Paul summed up things nicely. It appears @LeeEvolved is undergoing a "change" and we should be mindful. You know some of you "Gentlemen" are besmirching the reputation of one of my all time favorites. But it's okay, as the 2017 is actually the one who stole my heart - 2 beautifully crafted boxes worth with 1 now sadly empty. :-(
@soba45 - i bought the balvenie before the trip and was unimpressed, so didn’t spring for the big brother.
@LeeEvolved - there you go. Take Karen to Scotland and she’ll get all mixed up after you tell her you’re there to play golf. :)
@LeeEvolved @Generously_Paul I have no words. We went from the likes of Ardbeg and Lagavulins to...”Karen”.
@Generously_Paul - that batch of “Karen” got demolished on the golf course, for sure. The final score card was also definite proof that “she” was delicious and thoroughly enjoyed. For those who may be interested in the recipe for Karen: 1 part Svedka Limon vodka .5 part Svedka Strawberry Lemonade vodka 2 parts Minute Maid Lemonade Mix, shake vigorously, chill and enjoy! Pour over ice or drink straight from the vessel- preferably while pursuing your favorite outdoor pastime.
@PBMichiganWolverine he’s moved on from being @LeeEvolved, whisky drinker extraordinaire, to being....Karen, and drinking Karen drinks and demanding to speak to the manager.
@Soba45 the problem of shipping bottles in the US is that it’s illegal, unless you’re a licensed retailer
@Rick_M Have you tried the 47% one? Usually DF is watered down further!
@PBMichiganWolverine Yeah I'd love to set up an auction house in NZ. I think Lee needs to hire a shipping container and send them to the Uk auction houses :-)
@Slainte-Mhath - i just finished a Balvenie 21 Portwood. It comes at 43%abv in the US; otherwise, I wouldn’t have bought it. 40% everywhere else including Canada. Duty Free is 47.6%.
@PBMichiganWolverine - Think positive! If we ever have a “Book of Eli” type event, you’ll be a wealthy man. :) Oh, wait....
@Rick_M I hope you are right that the days of 40% ABV are numbered. Far too many decent malts (Balvenie 21 PortWood, Bushmills 21, Midleton Very Rare) are watered down beyond recognition.
@LeeEvolved Maybe a trip to Scotland would revive your passion for whisky?
@LeeEvolved @Soba45 the irony is that these assets aren’t liquid at all...in the US at least
@PBMichiganWolverine - nothing really. I’ve been spending 60-70 hours a week at work and just bankrolling my extra funds. I’m waiting on my next obsession to find me, I guess. Lol
@LeeEvolved so out of curiosity —-what have you moved on to ?
@Soba45 - I have no real plans to do anything with the stuff I have. I’ve been opening a bottle or two here and there when I crave a little taste, but I don’t think I’ll be opening any of the expensive bottles in the foreseeable future.
@LeeEvolved Out of interest will you be selling everything in your collection or just the valuables?
@LeeEvolved Haha...maybe a nice bottle of whiskey would be better :-)
@Soba45 - “I’m tired of these (expletive deleted) snakes on this (expletive deleted) plane!” - S Jackson
@LeeEvolved Get a comfort animal..maybe a boa constrictor or anaconda :-)
@Soba45 - I used to fly up and down the east coast of the US when I was young. I just haven’t been on a plane in over a decade and the thought of flying now is a bit unsettling.
@LeeEvolved You should do a cruise around the world. Don't want to ruin your perfect no flying record :-)
@Rick_M yup. cheap grandfatherly blends may be the exception:-).
@Soba45 - i think the days of 40%abv are numbered.
@1901 - My wife is half Irish. She’s forcing me to say nice things about Ireland. :)
@LeeEvolved - You are the man! I’m sure you will be flying soon. Hopefully, with golf clubs in tow. :)
@LeeEvolved Iceland is amazing —we spent 2 weeks there this past summer.
Wow, great golf review. It’s too bad the whiskey didn’t live up to the links. I’ve been giving travel a serious thought since I’ve basically retired from whisky and firearm collecting. Some of my coworkers suggest the best way to kill my fear of flying is to go jump out of a perfectly fine airplane, and while they may be onto something, I’m also not that insane. I’m beginning to plan my 2020 vacations and I actually have been looking into Scotland and Iceland (2 of my 3 dream/bucket list destinations...the other being Japan). Perhaps I’ll take the plunge next year, hopefully not literally in a 757. You and @PBMichiganWolverine always make the thought of travel a magnificent endeavor- so thanks for that. ...and the whisky reviews aren’t too shabby, either. Cheers, gentlemen.
Spot on assessment of VR. Also, I reckon the next installment from Tourism Ireland must have cleared... 🇮🇪
Nice review. Solid drop but waaaay over priced IMHO.