Irish Distillers Unveils Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest
Irish Distillers has unveiled Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest, the third release in the Dair Ghaelach collection. Dair Ghaelach, which translates to ‘Irish oak’, is over a decade long experiment by Midleton’s Master of Maturation Kevin O’Gorman, Master Cooper Ger Buckley, and Master Blender Billy Leighton to explore the maturation of Irish whiskey in sustainably sourced native oak from estates throughout Ireland.
Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest has matured in barrels made from virgin oak grown in Knockrath Forest, County Wicklow, Ireland. The virgin oak wood staves were dried for 15 months before being worked into barrels, given a light toasting, and filled with Irish pot still whiskeys ranging in age from 13-26 years. These whiskeys were matured for an additional two years in the virgin Irish oak before being bottled at cask strength, ranging from 56.1%-56.6% ABV per batch.
Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest is described as having aromas of “pot still spices, toasted wood, vanilla, roasted coffee, and fresh orchard and tropical fruits”, with “pot still spices and a medley of sweet notes including chocolate and honeycomb” on the palate. The “remarkably long” finish exhibits notes of “fruit and spices which fade to allow the Irish oak to have the final say.”
Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest will be available beginning this month in the UK, Ireland, France, United States, and China at a suggested retail price of €310 (~$340).
Photo credit: Irish Distillers.
Source: irishdistillers.ie.