Midleton Very Rare has announced the launch of the first release from its new limited-edition Rare Wood Collection, which explores how exceptional and unconventional woods can shape Irish whiskey.

Midleton Very Rare Irish Chestnut Edition (56.1% ABV) is a single pot still Irish whiskey, initially matured in first-fill and refill Bourbon barrels, before being finished in casks crafted entirely from Irish sweet chestnut sourced from a single Irish estate.

Nearly a decade in the making, the release is described as a celebration of Irish nature and craftsmanship, bringing together generations of stewardship, exceptional coopering and Midleton’s mastery of whiskey-making.

The journey began in 2017, when just six carefully selected Irish sweet chestnut trees (Castanea sativa) were harvested from the carefully managed woodland of Cappoquin Estate, home to the Keane family since 1735. Overlooking the Blackwater Valley, the estate has been cared for and nurtured by generations of the same family, with each tree individually selected as part of the estate’s considered approach to woodland management.

From there, the timber embarked on a remarkable journey. It was transformed into bespoke casks through a meticulous process of natural seasoning and traditional coopering in Spain, drawing on centuries of internationally recognised cooperage and seasoning expertise.

The casks then returned to Ireland, where a specially selected marriage of light-, medium- and heavy-style Midleton Single Pot Still whiskeys, originally matured in first-fill and refill Bourbon barrels, was finished in the Irish sweet chestnut casks for a further five years.

The result is described as the first whiskey in the world to be finished in casks crafted entirely from Irish sweet chestnut wood sourced from a single Irish estate — a category-first innovation that unites Midleton’s distilling expertise with a uniquely Irish provenance.

Midleton Very Rare Irish Chestnut Edition is described as delivering notes of honey-drizzled red apple, caramelised orange peel, melted chocolate, toffee fudge, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood and rich, nutty undertones on the nose. The palate follows with notes of sweet orchard fruits, citrus, vanilla, chocolate shavings and soft wood tannins.

Commenting on the launch, Kevin O’Gorman, Master Distiller at Midleton Distillery, said: “Wood has always played an essential role in shaping the character of our whiskeys, but with Irish sweet chestnut we saw an opportunity to explore something entirely new. Moving beyond traditional oak, we wanted to understand how this exceptional wood could bring a new dimension to one of our finest whiskeys. That question set us on a journey of discovery spanning nearly a decade, resulting in the world’s first whiskey finished in casks crafted entirely from Irish sweet chestnut.”

“When we filled these casks, we couldn’t know exactly how Irish sweet chestnut would influence the whiskey, but what we discovered was something genuinely distinctive: a richness, texture and complexity unlike anything we’d experienced before. The Midleton Very Rare Irish Chestnut Edition is a whiskey that could only have come from Ireland, defined by its landscape, its craftspeople and the patience to allow nature and time to do their work. We’re proud that it becomes the inaugural expression in the Rare Wood Collection, which will continue to explore how exceptional woods can shape extraordinary Irish whiskey.”

Limited in quantity, Midleton Very Rare Irish Chestnut Edition, is now available from selected specialist retailers, for a RRP of €440.00.