Midleton Very Rare Unveils Irish Chestnut Edition
Irish sweet chestnut wood is so porous that about 29% of this whiskey evaporated during just five years in the cask. That is the price of a world first. Midleton Very Rare has launched the Irish Chestnut Edition, a limited whiskey finished in casks made entirely from Irish sweet chestnut, and it kicks off the brand's new Rare Wood Collection. It is a cask strength release, with a story that took close to a decade to come together.
Did You Know?
The casks came from six Irish sweet chestnut trees felled in 2017 on the Cappoquin Estate in County Waterford, which the Keane family has owned since 1735.
The timber did not stay in Ireland. The trees were shipped to Spain, where the wood was naturally seasoned and made into casks, then sent back to Ireland to be filled.
Master distiller Kevin O'Gorman describes the project as a journey of discovery lasting nearly a decade.
The Release
Midleton did not start from scratch with new spirit. It began with light, medium and heavy Midleton single pot still whiskeys that had already matured in first-fill and refill bourbon barrels. First-fill barrels are ones that held bourbon only once before, while refill barrels are on their second use. Those whiskeys were then moved into bespoke Irish sweet chestnut casks for five years.
Chestnut is a more porous wood than traditional oak, which means more contact between the whiskey and the cask, and a much bigger angel's share. The angel's share is the portion of whiskey that evaporates through the wood while it ages. Here, around 29% was lost over the five years.
The partnership behind the wood was a careful one. According to The Luxe Review, forestry consultant Paddy Purser worked with Kevin O'Gorman and Master Cooper Ger Buckley to identify the trees. Sir Charles Keane of Cappoquin Estate said his family has cared for these woodlands for generations, and that seeing a small number of rare chestnut trees become part of the Midleton Very Rare story reflects the same long-term thinking.
The whiskey is bottled at its natural cask strength of 56.1% ABV (112.2 proof), meaning it was not diluted with water, and it is non-chill filtered. According to the distillery, the nose shows honey-drizzled red apple, caramelised orange peel, toffee fudge and spice. The palate brings sweet orchard fruits, a hint of citrus, plenty of vanilla, chocolate and soft wood tannins, with pot still spices. The finish leaves fruit lingering before fading to pot still spice and the influence of the chestnut.
Release size is about 800 cases worldwide. It launched on October 8, 2026 with a recommended price of €440 (about $494). Robb Report lists the US SRP at $490 and says it is available now in limited numbers at specialty retailers around the globe. No separate US launch date or distribution plan has been announced.
The Story of Midleton Very Rare
Midleton Very Rare comes from Midleton Distillery in County Cork, part of Pernod Ricard. The brand is built around single pot still whiskey, a distinctly Irish style made from both malted and unmalted barley distilled in pot stills. It tends to be spicy and full of texture.
Midleton Very Rare is best known as a yearly release, with a new edition launching each year, and the Irish Chestnut Edition shows the team is now looking beyond oak for new flavors. Recent news from the distillery includes the 2026 and 2025 Very Rare editions, and a 28 year old whiskey that rounded off Midleton's 200th anniversary celebrations.
Kevin O'Gorman, the master distiller, says the Rare Wood Collection will keep exploring how exceptional woods can shape Irish whiskey. Chestnut is the first, and it suggests the collection will focus on unconventional woods.
Why It Stands Out
Wood experiments are common in whiskey, but the claim here is a specific one: casks crafted entirely from Irish sweet chestnut, with the wood sourced from a single historic estate. The tiny number of trees, the long timeline and the small release size make this one for collectors who follow category firsts. It will also be interesting to see how other distillers respond to the chestnut idea.
The Details
Style: Irish single pot still whiskey, finished in Irish sweet chestnut casks
Age: Not officially stated; five years in chestnut casks after bourbon barrel maturation
ABV/Proof: 56.1% ABV (112.2 proof), natural cask strength, non-chill filtered
Cask/Finish: First-fill and refill bourbon barrels, then bespoke Irish sweet chestnut casks for five years
Release Size: About 800 cases worldwide
Price (SRP): €440 (about $494); US SRP $490 per Robb Report
Availability: Specialty retailers worldwide, in limited numbers
US Availability: Reported at specialty retailers with a $490 SRP; no separate US launch date or distribution plan announced
Release Date: October 8, 2026
Tonights Poison Take
This is a bottle with a real story: one estate, six trees, years of patience and a wood that behaves differently from oak. For collectors, the world-first claim and the small release are the draw. For drinkers, the distillery's tasting notes point to a fruit-forward, chocolatey pot still whiskey with a distinctive wood character. It is also a promising start for the Rare Wood Collection.
Bar Talk: Midleton made a whiskey in casks from six Irish chestnut trees, and the wood was so porous that 29% evaporated in five years.
Send this to the Irish whiskey fan who thinks they know every wood, and tell us what you would want Midleton to try next.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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