The Whiskey Wire
(other spirits may appear!)
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press release
REDBREAST CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF REDBREAST 15 YEAR OLD WITH EXCLUSIVE CASK STRENGTH RELEASE
A bold new limited release brings amplified flavour and natural intensity
to a beloved Redbreast expression
Redbreast, the world’s most awarded Single Pot Still Irish whiskey*, proudly announces the launch of Redbreast 15 Year Old Cask Strength — a powerful, small-batch release crafted to celebrate 20 years since Redbreast 15 Year Old was first introduced.
Redbreast 15 Year Old Cask Strength is bottled at its natural strength of 56.3% ABV and will be available exclusively via MidletonDistilleryCollection.
First released as a one-off bottling, Redbreast 15 Year Old was so well received that it was soon added permanently to the Redbreast family. 20 years on, this cask strength edition pays tribute to this milestone by intensifying the rich, distillate-driven style that fans have cherished for two decades.
Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks, Redbreast 15 Year Old Cask Strength remains true to the signature Redbreast style, showcasing the bright and crisp citrus flavour notes, herbal undertones and a lively spice character alongside the familiar notes of dried fruits and toasted oak.
Speaking about the launch, Master Blender Dave McCabe says: “This release is a celebration of everything Redbreast 15 Year Old represents — heritage, craftsmanship, and character. Bottling it at natural cask strength allows the whiskey to fully showcase its complexity and vibrancy. Selecting 15 casks for this expression was a meaningful choice, connecting the whiskey’s age to its creation story."
He continued:
"In Redbreast’s world, each batch tells its own story. This limited edition gives fans the chance to experience the spirit of Redbreast 15 in a new way, while staying true to the style they know and love."
Master Blender Emeritus Billy Leighton adds: "When Redbreast 15 was first created it was intended to be a one-time release. Its overwhelming success led it to become a permanent part of our portfolio. This cask strength edition captures the spirit of that original moment — delivering a whiskey that is both deeply familiar and thrillingly new. It’s a bold tribute to our fans and a reminder that every batch, like every Redbreast, has its own unique personality."
Each bottle carries a batch stamp, marking its place as part of a single-release, one-off edition. Redbreast fans, who often celebrate the subtle differences between batches, will find much to discover in this rare expression.
This launch also harnesses Redbreast’s wider global brand campaign "Quite the Find", which celebrates the joy of discovering hidden gems — whether it’s an extraordinary whiskey or a rare story — a theme recently brought to life through Redbreast’s partnership with actor Andrew Scott and the Redbreast Unhidden short film award at the SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Redbreast 15 Year Old Cask Strength will be available from MidletonDistilleryCollection.
For more information visit MidletonDistilleryCollection.
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press release via Ballyvolane House
BERTHA FAREWELL 
Ten years on and Bertha is winding down. But will there be a kiss of life?

After 10 years of hard work, triumphs, disasters, giggles and tears Justin and Antony are sad to announce that the Ballyvolane House Spirits Company will be winding down at the end of May. We are hopeful that the Bertha’s Revenge brand will continue under new and energetic stewardship, but it will no longer be produced on site at Ballyvolane House, nor will Justin or Antony be at the helm.
We wish to thank all of our distribution partners at home and abroad, along with friends in the retail and hospitality trade for their support since we launched in 2015. A very special thank you is due to the fine, gin-drinking public from Ireland and abroad who engaged with us, flirted with the brand and fell in love with our gin named after a cow from Co. Kerry. From bar stools to kitchen tables, from intimate picnics in wild places to gleeful wedding celebrations, we could never have hoped that Bertha would resonate with so many people.
We do have limited stock of Bertha’s Revenge Gin and Bertha’s Revenge Sloe Gin. If interested in picking up a case or two please do email us at info@ballyvolanespirits.ie.
Also, if anyone is looking to acquire a much-loved quirky Irish gin brand with massive potential for growth, please do reach out.
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MIDLETON VERY RARE, THE PINNACLE OF IRISH WHISKEY, LAUNCHES 2025 VINTAGE
Six distillate styles unite to create a commemorative whiskey that honours Midleton Distillery’s 200-year legacy
Midleton Very Rare, the pinnacle of Irish Whiskey, is proud to unveil Midleton Very Rare 2025, an extraordinary blend of the finest single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys, spanning four decades. This year’s vintage is a testament to both tradition and innovation, expertly crafted to pay homage to Midleton Distillery’s 200th anniversary*.
Drawing on his extensive expertise in distillation and maturation, Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman led an exceptional team in creating Midleton Very Rare 2025. Their journey began with the careful selection of rare single pot still and single grain whiskeys from Midleton’s prestigious A2 Warehouse, an historic stone warehouse dating back to the 1860s, where the best performing whiskeys are set aside to mature.
In their pursuit of perfection, and for the first time in the collection’s history, the team identified six exquisite distillate styles, each representing generations of artisans who have shaped the Midleton Very Rare legacy. Masterfully blended, these distillates unite to create a whiskey of remarkable depth and complexity. This milestone release stands as testament to Midleton Very Rare unwavering craftsmanship, visionary spirit and commitment to pushing the boundaries of Irish whiskey excellence, an ethos that has stood at the core of the distillery since its very inception.
*Midleton Distillery was founded in 1825
Unique to the 2025 vintage, O’Gorman hand selected three styles of grain whiskey for inclusion. Alongside Midleton’s signature grain whiskey, he included a 22-Year-Old select batch special grain whiskey, crafted from a mash bill of barley and malted barley, which was blended with an equally rare 21 Year-Old grain whiskey. Both matured in refill ex- American whiskey oak barrels, allowing the luscious sweetness and rich butterscotch notes of the distillate to shine through.
Midleton Very Rare 2025 also features an increased pot still contribution, adding an intricate layer of complexity with deep spice and stone fruit notes, beautifully complementing the notes of sweet toffee, butterscotch, gentle floral and cut grass nuances of the grain whiskey. After meticulous blending, the team created three initial prototypes. Following a series of delicate refinements, enhancing the contribution of pot still whiskey aged in first fill barrels brought the final expression into perfect harmony. The result is an exquisitely complex whiskey with a well-balanced finish, one that stays true to the Midleton Very Rare profile while introducing a subtle yet defining twist for this year’s vintage.
Celebrating the launch of Midleton Very Rare 2025, Kevin O’Gorman shares:
"As we celebrate 200 years of whiskey making excellence at Midleton Distillery it is a true honour to craft a vintage that commemorates this remarkable legacy. Midleton Very Rare 2025 is a whiskey of depth and balance, meticulously composed from six distinct distillate styles, each representing generations of mastery, innovation, and dedication that have become synonymous with Midleton Very Rare. This milestone release not only pays tribute to the past but also looks to the future. As we honour this historic occasion, my team and I remain committed to laying down more extraordinary whiskeys that will continue to shape and inspire the Midleton Very Rare legacy for the next 200 years and beyond.”
Housed in a beautifully crafted, fully recyclable* gift box, the Midleton Very Rare 2025 bottle is adorned with elegant details, including an illustration of Midleton Distillery, its iconic pot stills, and a commemorative stamp marking the distillery’s historic 200th anniversary.
Midleton Very Rare 2025 was bottled at 40% ABV and will be available from 15th April, initially in Ireland, the USA, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Australia, Irish and global travel retail and Irish Distillers’ brand homes at the RRP of €240, $350, £220, and in additional markets later in 2025.
press release
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Kinsale 21 Gin 40% ABV.
Each drop is a sensation! Also a standout in cocktails
Widely available at about €40.00
Kinsale Gin is a prize-winning spirit featuring an impressive blend of 21 botanicals. According to the makers, "We go the extra mile to hand-pick local botanicals to achieve complete perfection. Each of our treasured 21 botanicals has been carefully chosen to contribute something extraordinary to our gin. We gather them seasonally and responsibly, ensuring enough is left for local wildlife and promoting future growth."
I have loved this gin for quite a while. It is fresh and captures the essence of the open countryside, which is not surprising since many of the 21 botanicals are foraged from the local area. When you don't overwhelm the essential spirit with too much tonic or excessive mixers, you'll notice beautiful notes of juniper, alongside the floral hints of meadowsweet, elderflower, and elderberries, complemented by the exotic aromas of lemon verbena and lemon geranium. They describe it as: “The sweetness from the