Midleton Very Rare changed the idea of what Irish whiskey had become. It wasn’t mass market, but a limited and highly distinguished liquid. It was in fact the first premium blended whiskey produced before any Scottish distillery had even begun to think about it. The blend, created by master distiller Brian Nation, comprises single pot still and grain whiskeys drawn from a batch of ex-Bourbon barrels with an age span of 12 to 32 years. In the glass, the whiskey is copper gold. On the nose, it is full of sweet and fruity aromas. Midleton Very Rare 2017 starts with soft notes of vanilla and honey that are quickly followed by fresh and fruitier notes. Mainly orange zest and some tangerine notes, but also hints of pears and apples. Some toasted oak notes show up slowly, accompanied by nutmeg and pepper notes.