As we’ve covered recently, there are plenty of great Irish whiskeys to try — and not just because St. Patrick’s Day is coming up next week. One of the best names in the category is Midleton Very Rare, an annual luxury release produced at the eponymous distillery where other major brands are made, and the brand has just announced the release of a new 2026 edition of this exceptional Irish whiskey.
This is the 43rd annual release of Midleton Very Rare, and the release under the supervision of master distiller Kevin O’Gorman. The MVR changes with each release, but is usually a blend of pot still and grain whiskeys from Midleton, the same distillery that also produces brands like Jameson, Redbreast, and Powers. As a reminder, pot still whiskey is a distinctly Irish category made from still malted and unmalted barley mash in a pot still, while grain whiskey incorporates grains other than barley into the composition.
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The 2026 vintage is a blend of five different distillates selected by O’Gorman — three single pot stills and two single grain whiskeys, one of which is made from malted and unmalted barley mash bales used in last year’s release to impart the brand’s whiskey notes of butterscotch and toffee. The grain portion is slightly larger than last year’s release, and O’Gorman chose more mature batches of grain whiskey matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels (the exact makeup of the blend is not disclosed). As for pot still whiskeys, it includes lighter-style whiskeys that add notes of “citrus, lemon zest, and orange peel,” while traditional pot still brings some sweetness and mouthfeel to the mix.
“As the sixth vintage release under my patronage, I wanted to explore the limits of what’s possible with our range of rare liquids, while staying true to the unique style that Midleton Very Rare is known for,” O’Gorman said in a statement. “The final liquid offers a great depth of complexity, showcasing both the elegant, floral, and herbal notes of the grain whiskey, our single pot stone fruit notes still for a unique blend of whiskey that is layered, elegant and distinctly Middleton.”
Midleton Very Rare 2026 (40 percent ABV) is available now in Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, Australia, and global travel retail (SRP $240), and will be available here in the US starting in April.
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