Midleton Very Rare Introduces Forêt de Tronçais Edition 2
Irish Distillers, operator of Midleton Distillery, has introduced the second edition of Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais.
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 in France, 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 limited-edition whiskey with a succulent texture, enhanced by flavours of decadent white chocolate and fruit nuances, with a gentle lingering spice.
The 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 woodcrafts 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.
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 flavours of 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 Edition 2 is bottled at 48% ABV and will be available in select markets including Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, Czech Republic, Benelux, Germany, Singapore, Global Travel Retail, 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.
