(Credit: Pernod Ricard)
Irish Distillers, best known as the owners of New Midleton Distillery where Jameson is made, have announced the release of the 2026 edition of their original super premium expression, Midleton Very Rare. Originally conceived as taking Jameson to a much finer and higher level, Midleton Very Rare is always a blend of some of the best single pot still and grain whiskeys in the distillery’s stocks.
Five distinct whiskey styles – three single pot still and two single grain – were selected for this year’s blend. Among them is a specially selected batch of grain whiskey made from a mash bill of barley and malted barley, a style also featured in the 2025 Vintage. The blend also features a subtle increase in Midleton’s signature grain whiskey.
New Midleton’s Master Distiller
(Credit: Pernod Ricard)
Master Distiller and former Master of Maturation Kevin O’Gorman said, “Each year, we hope to create a Midleton Very Rare Vintage that heroes the years of craftsmanship gone before while developing something rare, new and enticing for people to discover. As the sixth Vintage Release under my guardianship, I wanted to explore the bounds of what is possible from our array of exceptional liquids, while remaining true to the unique style for which Midleton Very Rare has become known. The final liquid offers a great depth of complexity, showcasing both the elegant, floral and herbal notes of grain whiskeys with the spicier, stone fruit notes from our single pot still whiskeys for a unique blend that is layered, elegant and distinctly Midleton.”
The 2026 Vintage is presented in an elegant box featuring refined foil detailing and a new friction-closure design that glides open to reveal the bottle in a striking presentation. It’s bottled at 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available in the United States at a suggested retail price of $240.
In addition to the 2026 Vintage, Midleton Very Rare 2025 and 2024 are available nationwide.
