Midleton Very Rare is Releasing Its 2026 Vintage Irish Whiskey
As we covered recently, there are a whole lot 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 that is produced at the eponymous distillery where other major brands are made, and the brand just announced the launch of the new 2026 edition of this exceptional Irish whiskey.
This is the 43rd annual release of Midleton Very Rare, and the sixth to come out under the watch of master distiller Kevin O’Gorman. MVR changes with every release, but typically it’s a blend of pot still and grain whiskeys that are distilled at Midleton, the same distillery where brands like Jameson, Redbreast, and Powers are also produced. As a reminder, pot still whiskey is a distinctly Irish category that is made on a pot still from a mashbill of malted and unmalted barley, while grain whiskey incorporates other cereal grains besides barley into the recipe.
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The 2026 vintage is a blend of five different distillates selected by O’Gorman—three single pot still and two single grain whiskeys, one of which is made from a mashbill of malted and unmalted barley that was used in last year’s release to give the whiskey notes of butterscotch and toffee, according to the brand. The grain component consists of a slightly larger proportion than last year’s release, and O’Gorman selected more mature batches of grain whiskey matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels (the exact makeup of the blend is not revealed). As far as the pot still whiskeys are concerned, there are more of the lighter style whiskeys included to add notes of “citrus, lemon zest, and orange peel,” while the traditional pot still component brings some sweetness and mouthfeel to the blend.
“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,” said O’Gorman in a statement. “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.”
Midleton Very Rare 2026 (40 percent ABV) is available now in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Australia, and global travel retail (SRP $240), and will be available here in the U.S. starting in April.
