The pinnacle of Irish whiskey meets the finest French oak once again in a new, rare release
Irish Distillers introduces the Second Edition of Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais – an extraordinary liquid that, once again, brings two distinctive worlds together in perfect harmony.
This is the second release from the Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais series, following a successful first collaboration between Midleton Distillery and the renowned Taransaud cooperage, which is famed for its expertise in creating rare, handcrafted French oak casks.
This latest edition of Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais was created by Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman and combines the finest craftsmanship of Ireland and France to create something truly exceptional. A hand-selected blend of grain and single pot-still whiskeys, matured over decades spanning the 1980s to early 2000s in American bourbon barrels, were married together and carefully filled into casks made of five-year air-dried oak from the forest of Tronçais (known as T5 casks). The whiskey was then aged for a further four years, creating a one-of-a-kind limited- edition whiskey with a succulent texture, enhanced by decadent white chocolate and fruit nuances, with a gentle lingering spice.
This remarkable whiskey is presented in a hand formed and hand finished glass bottle which retains the distinctive duck egg blue of the Midleton Very Rare collection. The bottle is further housed in a wooden cabinet created by Manufacture Jacquemin, a third-generation traditional woodcraft business based in the Jura Mountains in Eastern France. Using the rare Forêt de Tronçais oak, this cabinet is adorned with laser-cut details reflecting the story of the forest. The interior design of the cabinet has evolved, moving from the tree branch motifs used for the first edition to a more subtle representation of the actual wood grain, highlighting a luxurious, yet minimalist, aesthetic.
Following the success of the first edition, Forêt de Tronçais Second Edition introduces a distinct evolution in both the whiskey and its presentation, pushing the boundaries of rarity and refinement and offering consumers the unique opportunity to explore and expand their premium whisk(e)y portfolio.
Kevin O’Gorman, Master Distiller at Midleton Distillery, explains:
“The second edition of Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais adds a new dimension to the foundation we have built; this time, we have increased the proportion of pot still whiskey whilst also increasing the refill-cask element. The numerous years of maturation allow the pot still distillate to express itself fully, giving it an extra layer of complexity that adds a wonderful stone fruitiness and soft clove spice on the nose, along with an abundant creaminess and mouth-watering taste experience. The influence of the T5 oak over four years takes this liquid to the next level, adding herbaceous and floral notes, along with caramel, toffee and cinnamon. We are constantly innovating while staying true to the distinctive character and essence of Midleton Very Rare and I am incredibly excited looking to the future of this collection.”
Jacquelin de Pracomtal, Vice President at Taransaud cooperage, comments:
“We are incredibly proud to continue this collaboration with Midleton Distillery. Our shared dedication to craftsmanship and excellence is reflected in each cask and this second edition showcases the extraordinary balance between the cask’s fine grain and the whiskey’s depth of flavour.”
Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais Second Edition is bottled at 48% ABV and will be available in select markets and online to order from the 14th of November from 12 pm (noon) at the RRP of €5,000 / £4,388.
Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais will be released in yearly editions, subject to the availability of this rare liquid and oak combination as the years progress.
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Official Tasting notes
Nose
Opens with sweet-scented aromas of vanilla and sugar cane, complimented by crisp and zesty notes of orange and sweet pear. Enhanced by the French oak, this wonderfully complex whiskey carries an array of spices, with cinnamon and nutmeg to the fore accompanied by the subtle undertones of candied ginger, heather honey, and white chocolate. The oak influence continues to build with intriguing antique wood notes, creating an exceptionally balanced whiskey.
Taste
Succulent texture with stone fruits and vanilla cream in abundance, all the while the pot still spices slowly build in tandem with the delicate herbal notes and soft floral nuances. Gentle tannins linger in the background enhancing the sweet fruits while hints of clove spice and cinnamon showcase the oak’s measured influence from the many years of ageing.
Finish
Satisfyingly long with the pot still spices the first to fade, allowing the oak and stone fruits to gently linger until the very end.
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