Midleton Very Rare Foret de Tronçais
Midleton Very Rare Foret de Tronçais is Midleton's ultra-premium standalone release — a bespoke batch of single grain and single pot still whiskeys, initially matured in American bourbon barrels, then finished for three years in a T5 cask of fine-grain oak from the Forêt de Tronçais in France. Bottled at 48% ABV in just 1,380 bottles for the inaugural edition, it arrives in a duck-egg-blue bottle inside a hand-crafted Tronçais-oak cabinet. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 48%
- Size: 700mL
- Age: no age statement — vintages spanning the 1980s to 2000s
- Origin: Midleton Distillery, County Cork, Ireland
- Production: 3-year finish in Taransaud T5 Tronçais oak (5-year air-seasoned); blended under Master Distiller Kevin O'Gorman
Tronçais Oak, Irish Soul
The Forêt de Tronçais is France's legendary oak forest — the source of the tightest-grained barrels in the cooperage world — and Midleton gave it three years to work on some of its oldest stocks. The T5 cask from Taransaud Cooperage was air-seasoned for five years before it ever held whiskey, and the wood it came from is the same Tronçais oak used for the hand-made presentation cabinet by Manufacture Jacquemin of the Jura Mountains. This is not an annual vintage release but a standalone ultra-premium bottling launched at €5,000. Browse the Midleton collection, more Irish whiskey, and Del Mesa's rare and allocated bottles.
Tasting Notes
Expect Midleton's signature pot still spice — green apple, honey, and toasted oak — deepened by the Tronçais finish into dark chocolate, dried fig, and polished tannin. The 48% bottling strength carries remarkable length and a silky, refined finish.
How to Enjoy
Neat, in a proper nosing glass, with time — this is a collector's pour and an occasion whiskey. A few drops of water will open the oldest vintages in the blend.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais cost?
The launch RRP was €5,000 / $5,000, positioning it among the most expensive Irish whiskeys ever released.
How many bottles of Midleton Forêt de Tronçais were released?
1,380 bottles for the inaugural edition (Edition 1); an Edition 2 followed.
What is the Forêt de Tronçais?
France's famed oak forest, source of the fine-grain Tronçais oak used for the finishing cask and the presentation cabinet.
Irish whiskey's Tronçais masterpiece — order Midleton Very Rare Foret de Tronçais online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.