Midleton 47 Year Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Three 700ml

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. Chapter Three in the collection is a single pot still Irish whiskey taken from two casks, an ex-sherry butt, and an ex-bourbon barrel, both of which were distilled in 1973. Only 97 bottles have been produced. Each one comes in an individually-numbered Waterford crystal decanter and burr elm cabinet crafted by Irish designer John Galvin, accompanied by a 50ml miniature, so that you can give the whisky a try without opening the full-sized decanter.
Nose:
 The first impression is a rich medley of forest fruits. Notes of sugar-glazed cherries, earthy and toffee tones of muscovado sugar and almond flake follow, complementing the oak’s enduring influence on the spirit. Aromas reminiscent of worn, leather-bound ledgers and pipe tobacco linger, while measured levels of pot still spices add their own delicate presence.
Palate:
 Opens with a luxuriously rich and full-bodied texture accompanied by notes of freshly brewed dark roasted coffee, caramelised fruits, crushed pistachio and hazelnut. Hints of dried herbs and peppermint add further complexity, along with the oak’s soft tannins and subtle pot still spices.
Finish:
 A lasting finish finds soft fruits and old pot still spices lingering in harmony with the oak and emphasises how decades of undisturbed ageing can create such balance and complexity.