Dominick Maino is a whisky connoisseur who believes that you do not drink whisky, you experience it....you savor it...you learn from each experience....and then you do it all again. Check out his other blog at http://www.MainosMemos.blogspot.com .

1. Maino’s Whisky Tasting Notes
Name of Whisky:__Midleton Very Rare Whiskey (2011 bottling) __
Distiller: (Irish Distillers Pernod Richard) Midleton Age: Several blended 12-21 y/o whiskeys_
Color: OldGold/OldSauternes_
Sherry casks and Bourbon barrels___Single Pot Whiskey _______ABV: _40%_____
Swirl: Slightly oily and somewhat viscous. Clings and stays to the glass.
Nose (Neat):_Very mild nose, a hint of Cinnamon, honey (Dilute): _ Opens up the whiskey, Earthy
Apple, Apricot, Banana, Burnt wood, Carnation, Cedar, Chocolate, Cooked mash, Cinnamon, Citric, Cloves, Coconut,
Coffee, Dried hay, Dried hops, Earthy, Figs, Fishy, Heather, Honey, Lavender, Leather, Lemon, Lilac, Liquorice, Madeira,
Malt extract, Medicinal, Mossy, Mulch, Nutmeg, Nutty, Oranges, Peaches, Pear, Peaty, Pine, Pine nuts, Plums, Pot ale,
Rose, Sea-spray, Sautemes, Sherry, Smoke, Sulphury,Tangerines,Tea, Vanilla, Woody, Yeast extract
Nose Intensity: Very Mellow Warming Prickly Peppery Sharp
Flavor: Hint of Cinnamon, dried hops, Earthy, Sherry
Apple, Apricot, Banana, Burnt wood, Carnation, Cedar, Chocolate, Cooked mash, Cinnamon, Citric, Cloves, Coconut,
Coffee, Dried hay, Dried hops, Earthy, Figs, Fishy, Heather, Honey, Lavender, Leather, Lemon, Lilac, Liquorice, Madeira,
Malt extract, Medicinal, Mossy, Mulch, Nutmeg, Nutty, Oranges, Peaches, Pear, Peaty, Pine, Pine nuts, Plums, Pot ale,
Rose, Sea-spray, Sautemes, Sherry, Smoke, Sulphury,
Tangerines,Tea, Vanilla, Woody, Yeast extract
Mouth Feel: Smooth Viscous Very Drying Puckering Clean Creamy
First Taste: Clean Sweet Sour Salty Bitter
First Taste Intensity: Mellow Warming Prickly Peppery Sharp
Finish: Clean Sweet Sour Salty Bitter
Finish Intensity: Mellow Warming Prickly Peppery Sharp
Comments: Midleton Very Rare is blended from a number of 12-21 year old triple distilled whiskies. It is
made in County Cork by the John Jameson's & Son Company. I believe there are only 50 oak casks
produced each year (about 6,000 bottles), with each bottle individually numbered (my number is 023562)
and signed by Midleton's master blender (Barry Crockett). Even though this particular distillate is always
at the top of everyone’s list as one of the finest made in Ireland, I was not initially thrilled. It was dry
turning to sour in its finish. It did warm nicely, but the warmth faded fairly quickly. After adding a bit of
water, it seemed to change. It opened up nicely and took on more of an Earthy flavor. It also went very
well with my dinner and the bit of German milk chocolate. (I think a semi-sweet dark chocolate would
have been better.) With the slight dilution, a meal and chocolate this turned into a very nice whiskey
turning it from a 3+M to a 4M Maino rating.
M rating: 4Ms MMMM’s Cost: __$140.00 __