Midleton “Silent Distillery”: A 48-Year-Old Whisky That Costs $55,000

See every detail about the luxe spirit of the “Silent Distillery” collection.

Midleton.

Midleton unveiled one of the world’s oldest and rare whiskey, the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection. This ultra-aged Irish whiskey is a taste of history as it harkens back nearly five decades ago. It “honours the very last drops of this inimitable spirit before the distillery went silent forever. A “silent” distillery has closed its doors and been lost to ages past, achieving almost mythical status.”

The $55,000 whiskey makes use of the traditional Old Midleton Distillery, which was famous throughout the world for Irish whiskey, but when it closed its doors for the last time in 1975, it became an iconic part of Irish distilling legend. According to the brand, this luxe whiskey is the fourth chapter in the Silent Distillery Collection, while the sixth and final chapter is expected to be released in 2025: The Midleton’s 200th Anniversary.

The Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection is made up of some of the last surviving casks distilled in the gigantic direct-fired pot stills at the Old Midleton Distillery in Cork. These incredible stills could hold around 30,000 gallons of liquid, that’s over 135,000 litres. In 1975, the distillery shut to become a visitor centre and production moved to a modern building next door, the logically named New Midleton Distillery. The final result was blended under the watchful eye of Midleton Very Rare Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman.

Midleton.

“Emerging from the silence and created from the coming together of distillations that have matured to perfection over 48 years, Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter 4 delivers something old and something new; a contemporary expression of a time-honoured Irish whiskey, as unique as it is special.” – From Midleton.

Midleton.
Midleton.

This new whiskey is presented uniquely and creatively. Each bottle is a work of art created to hold the prized liquid, and each one is mouth blown – a skill that dates back more than 200 years.

Moreover, the new whiskey features notes of chocolate-dipped honeycomb with caramelised red apples and quince jelly. It also features vanilla-scented cream and coffee cake, with earthy cedarwood notes. Dried flowers, that still carry delicate waves of floral perfume, add to the array of flavours. Besides, on the palate, it features notes of peach, dried apricot and plum. A hint of chilli oil and grated ginger follows. Oak tannins perfectly balanced with the fruits and pot still spices, and mature Roquefort cheese. Floral and sweet-grain whiskey add finesse, making this a wonderfully complex blend that is silk-textured and full-bodied. Stone fruits and soft spices continue to linger for a time, with the oak tannins quietly fading into the background.

“Once carefully shaped, the flowing lines of the design are refined by the specialist craftsmen and women of Ireland’s world-famous House of Waterford. Finishing, etching, and polishing by hand, their attention to detail means each decanter is subtly different but still exudes the artistry and brilliance that are synonymous with the Waterford name.” – From Midleton.

Midleton.

The astonishing spirit is housed in a bespoke wooden cabinet that fuses “fine craftsmanship and precision engineering,”. Each cabinet is handmade by Galvin and his team from select lacewood. The iconic flecking of red and brown “conjures up images of barley fields and so recalls the natural bounty that is at the heart of our whiskey,”. The cabinets are also finished and dressed in premium shagreen leather and enhanced by detailing in sterling silver and oak reclaimed from Irish whiskey vats.