Midleton distillery is located just outside Midleton, Ireland and was founded in 1974 with production starting in 1975. But this wasn't the first Midleton distillery as the original, known as "Old Midleton Distillery" stopped production at this time and is now a major whiskey visitor centre.

The 'old' distillery was owned by Cork Distillers Company and in 1966 they merged with John Power & Son and John Jameson & Son to form the Irish Distillers Group.

Midleton is now owned by Pernod Ricard and the distillery is one of the most modern in the world with thirteen 75,000 litre stills including both column and pot stills.

Midleton

Midleton, for Irish Whiskey Society, Jan. 1995 - Oct. 2012

Cask 1038, Warehouse M09, Bay 13, one of 204 bottles

Original cost of this bottle; unknown

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Dark yellow gold

Nose: Is that a burst of Brasso alongside the woodinesss of the nose? Yes, it could well be but it's certainly not unpleasant, in fact really pretty nice. I feel this needs some time and I'm not disappointed when, after 5-6 minutes I'm reminded of hot cherries in custard, very nice.

Palate: This is much more bold and, dare I say; much more alive as it tantalises with lots of tingle. That suggestion of cherries is also more prominent here and accompanied by red and white currants as the fruitiness just tingles its way steadily into the finish.

Finish: Medium to long with all that fruitiness.

Overall Impression: Yet another facet to Irish whiskey and a very good one at that.

Midleton, Date of bonding 29 Oct. 1997, 59.5% ABV

Cask 7102 bottled for LMDW

Matured in warehouse M12A Bay 007, bottle No.30 of 228

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Yellow gold / pale oak

Nose: Initially very aromatic and almost floral like an English country garden but then came hints of a mildly chlorinated swimming pool. At this point I'd like to say that I was tasting this outside on the patio during a very pleasant spring-like evening and I was a little concerned about the 'swimming pool' effect so I revisited this whisky the next day in my usual indoor environment and found a much more normal result. So, I concur this is a very aromatic whisky to the point of being quite floral but also showing suggestions of a butterscotch-y fruitiness and mildly musty vanilla.

Palate: Warming across the palate with lots of fruitiness suggesting summer berries (mainly raspberry and blackberry) then expanding to include an almond-y butterscotch-iness.

Finish: Quite long and very big with that almod-y butterscotchiness and a suggestion of liquorice right at the end.

Overall Impression: Lovely. Really enjoyable on the retry without the swimming pool-iness. Moral of the story "don't taste & write notes outside with neighbouring farms."

Midleton, Barry Crockett Legacy, 46% ABV

Seasoned & Unseasoned US Bourbon Oak

No.016715 MSPS-11

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Pale yellow gold

Nose: Light and very aromatic, almost flowery with vanilla, milky toffee and a mild suggestion of buttercotch.

Palate: Everything from the nose is present on the palate with plenty of vanilla and butterscotch, in fact it's all quite buttery. Lovely.

Finish: Medium to long.

Overall Impression: Wonderful Irish whiskey, I just can't get enough of this one.

Paddy

Paddy, Centenary Ltd Edition, "Pure Pot Still", 7y, 43% ABV

Special edition to commemmorate the 100y anniversary 1913 - 2013

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€ (Just)

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Pale oak

Nose: Woody vanilla with a gentle fruitiness in the background reminding me of red apple. It also suggests a semi-sweetness.

Palate: Red apple and vanilla continue from the nose onto the palate. Could this be liquid apple crumble? It very much tastes like it before a further suggestion of summer berries join the party.

Finish: Medium to long.

Overall Impression: Apple crumble with berries and custard, you've just got to love it.

Powers

Powers, John's Lane, "Single Pot Still", 12y, 46% ABV

Special edition to commemmorate the origins of the now defunct Powers distillery. Bourbon & Oloroso casks.

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Dark cork

Nose: Gently refined? Water melon and peachy fruitiness, always faint, always light but always 'there'.

Palate: That gentle peachiness tingles lightly and sensually, but again it's quite gentle and subdued.

Finish: Surprisingly long, very long and again with that fruitiness.

Overall Impression: If ever there was a totally laid back or relaxed whiskey then this is the one. It's subdued and gentle, maybe even a little shy but absolutely delightful.

Redbreast

General whisky characteristics: Smooth, creamy, toffee

Redbreast, 'Pure pot still' 12y, 40% ABV

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Dram-atics Advent-urous live review

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Rich gold, light amber

Nose: Lots of aromatic butterscotch, gentle toffee, caramel and a hint of oil of orange.

Palate: Slightly scorched orange and cardamom seeds, whilst remaining very floral and fruity.

Finish: Very long with rich peach and light orange, perhaps even orange peel.

Overall Impression: Slightly thin at 40% but still a very good, flavoursome whiskey.

Redbreast, 'Single pot still' Cask Strength, 12y, 57.7% ABV

Batch 1/11

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Deep rich golden

Nose: Very aromatic liquorice root becoming more intense with vanilla and (car) polish.

Palate: This is big, very big with fruity polish and a creamy mouth-feel. Wonderful.

Finish: Very long with a suggestion of open fire embers right at the end

Overall Impression: I think I'm in love with a whiskey, this just has that je ne sais quoi which tickles my proverbial fancy.

Redbreast, 'Pure pot still' 15y, 46% ABV

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Bugatti Kelch

Colour: Gold

Nose: Almost bonfire night again. Treacle toffee, dark fruits and a little Christmas pudding.

Palate: Rich and creamy, treacle toffee and dark fruits swimming in sherry.

Overall Impression: I like this one, very much.

Redbreast, 'Pure pot still' 21y, 46% ABV

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Yellow gold

Nose: Initially leafy but also mildly perfumed but yet musty too. It seems creamy or custard-y but then an almost citric element makes me think of lemonade.

Palate: Mild, gentle and typically Irish with that gently perfumed character but yes, also a little lemonade-y.

Overall Impression: This sample was my last dregs from an entry to MMA 2013 so it's been on my shelf for the last 7 years and I wonder if it's deteriorated just a little? It's far from unpleasant, in fact it's still very nice but maybe when first opened it was just a tad nicer?

Tullamore Dew

Tullamore Dew, Heritage, 40% ABV

Special edition of 20 casks (8000 bottles) to commemmorate opening of Heritage centre in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Rich cork

Nose: Sweet, fresh maltiness initially prevails although it does remain quite mild throughout. Some very nice faint floral attributes develop with time.

Palate: Also sweet but with a spirity fruitiness which is quite reminiscent of a grappa style. Yes, really quite grappa-like at the end leading into the finish.

Finish: Long and fruity.

Overall Impression: This really is a quite different style of Irish whiskey, but not at all unpleasant, just different with that sweet maltiness and spirity fruitiness.

I'm indebted to 'PJ' for this sample and bottle picture, many thanks!

Yellow Spot

Yellow Spot, 12y, 46% ABV

Bourbon, sherry and 'Malaga' casks

Original cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Golden cork

Nose: Creamy and earthy with a peachy fruitiness which quickly expands further. This is followed by a second wave of earthiness and then continues to alternate between the fruitiness and earthiness.

Palate: This pretty well continues from the nose with that earthy, peachy fruitiness but this time accompanied by a suggestion of banana stem and oakiness, very nice.

Finish: Long.

Overall Impression: I love that alternating earthiness and fruitiness, a very nice whiskey.