Midleton Very Rare is one of those bottles that commands attention before you even crack the seal. The 2017 bottling from this legendary series — a 12 Year Old blended Irish whiskey sitting at 40% ABV — represents the kind of craftsmanship that Irish whiskey has built its modern reputation on. At £850, this isn't a casual purchase. It's a statement. And having spent time with this bottle, I think it earns its place at that price point, though not without a few caveats worth discussing.
For those unfamiliar with the series, each year's Midleton Very Rare release is a unique blend, meaning the 2017 bottling is its own thing — you can't just grab another vintage and expect the same experience. That scarcity is part of what drives the premium, but it also means you're buying a snapshot in time. A 12-year age statement gives this blend real structure and maturity, and at 40% ABV, it's bottled at a strength that prioritises accessibility over cask-strength intensity. Some purists will grumble about that, but I'd argue it suits the house style perfectly — Midleton has always been about elegance rather than brute force.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specific notes I don't have confirmed data on, but what I can tell you is this: Midleton Very Rare as a series is known for its pot still and grain whiskey blend, drawing from some of the finest casks in the Midleton distillery's warehouses. At 12 years old, you're looking at a whiskey that's had enough time in wood to develop genuine complexity — expect the kind of rounded, honeyed character that Irish whiskey does better than anyone, with the grain component adding lightness and the pot still bringing weight and spice. This is a whiskey that rewards patience. Don't rush it.
The Verdict
I'm giving the Midleton Very Rare 2017 an 8 out of 10. Here's why: this is a genuinely excellent Irish whiskey that showcases what blending at the highest level can achieve. The 12-year maturation gives it depth that younger expressions simply can't match, and the 2017 vintage has a collectibility factor that adds real value for anyone building a serious whiskey collection. Where it loses marks is the ABV — I'd love to see what this blend could do at 46% without chill filtration — and the price, which puts it firmly in special-occasion territory. But quality is quality, and Midleton Very Rare has it in abundance. If you're an Irish whiskey enthusiast looking for something that represents the absolute top tier of the category, this delivers.
Best Served
A whiskey at this price and pedigree deserves respect, so I'd recommend it neat in a Glencairn glass at room temperature. Give it ten minutes to open up after pouring — that 40% ABV means it doesn't need water to tame any heat, but a few drops can coax out additional nuance if you're inclined. If you absolutely must mix it, a simple Midleton Old Fashioned with a high-quality demerara syrup and a single dash of Angostura would be stunning — but honestly, at £850 a bottle, I'd save the cocktails for something more affordable and enjoy this one as the sipping whiskey it was designed to be.
