Given a bottle of Midleton very rare - Noob questions.

milltown

I met a mate for a pint over the weekend and he gave me a brown bag containing a nice presentation box of Midleton Very Rare (2006). I was very surprised but he reminded me that a few months back I gave him some advice that saved him losing a fair bit of money, so we're both happy!

Although very much a novice, I do like to enjoy the finer things in food and drink (and in the future, cigars if I can ever give up the fags) but I've no idea what I should do with my new whiskey. I'll confess that whenever I've tried whiskey in the past I was less than taken by it, apart from Irish coffees, but that was run of the mill stuff, either in a pub with water or a hot whiskey.

I know you guys would probably plotz at the thought of this being mixed with water, coffee, cream or anything else, so tell me how to enjoy it. I'm guessing (for no obvious reason) I should be looking forward to sipping it at room temperature. Is there anything else I should know to get the most out of it?

When is it best to drink it? i.e. How long will it keep, in the sealed bottle, and once I open it? My mate suggested keeping it until my 3 year old is 18 but I was under the impression that the xx year old whiskeys I see in some pubs were barrelled for that long, not left in bottles on shelves.

Also, has anyone gone along to the distillery (Dublin for me, Jamesons?) to register their bottle? Is it worth doing, maybe to learn more about the stuff and get a chance to taste some proper whiskey before breaking the seal on my own?

Looking forward to your replies.

monkeyfudge

Bastard... and I'm down to the last measure in my 2003 bottle as of this evening.

Drinking it straight is the only way for me to enjoy it... but I suppose you could stretch to putting ice in there if it pleases you.

They only make so many bottles a year... so keeping it unopened would increase it's value in the years to come... I'm not sure about it improving while in the bottle though... but some years are known to be better than others.

The tour is worthwhile.... there was a pretty poor video that I had to sit though last time I was there, but other than that it was interesting. And signing your name in the big ledger is fun.

ledar

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Drinking it straight is the only way for me to enjoy it... but I suppose you could stretch to putting ice in there if it pleases you.

Putting ice in it will kill the nose. Add a small bit of water if you don't want to drink it straight. Add it slowly and take small sips while you're doing it. Use a wine glass. Savour it. This might be your first good whiskey but it won't be your last.

I wouldn't save a middleton for that long. Pop it open at christmas and impress the neighbours. There are some far nicer whiskies at less than the €120 that would have cost. You can hold on to it an wait for it to appreciate in value but the whiskey won't age in glass.

Stephen

johnnyskeleton

Buy a bottle of cheaper whiskey first and see how you like that. If you like it with water, coffee, cream or anything else try the midleton that way. A good whiskey is a good whiskey and this should come accross no matter how you take it.

getoffthepot

Midleton is an occasional drink. Have a small one, neat or with a little water and sip it after the kids have gone to bed.
It will grow on you and you may even become a whiskey drinker. No better way to start.

Oilrig

I would agree that its an occasional type whiskey, I hate the stuff TBH. Would certainly not use it to try and introduce someone to whiskey.

Brockagh

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Buy a bottle of cheaper whiskey first and see how you like that. If you like it with water, coffee, cream or anything else try the midleton that way. A good whiskey is a good whiskey and this should come accross no matter how you take it.

I think that's good advice. No point opening it if you are not going to like it. I'm not sure what other Irish whiskey would be like it, though, by way of a lead in. All the Jameson stuff has sherry matured whiskey in it. Powers is, I think, the only other Irish whiskey exclusively matured in bourbon barrels, but it is much spicier than Midleton. Maybe Green Spot is similar, but obviously a lot younger.

One point, though, is that whiskey is a drink that really grows on you.

I think Midleton Very Rare is an excellent introduction to whiskey, because it is very mellow.

ledar

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Buy a bottle of cheaper whiskey first and see how you like that. If you like it with water, coffee, cream or anything else try the midleton that way. A good whiskey is a good whiskey and this should come accross no matter how you take it.

You'd seriously suggest using Midleton in an irish coffee. Wow. Why not just load it up with red bull and drink it through a straw? You know, if you like it that way...

Stephen

Mr Magnolia

If I were in your situation, I would not open it until I had an appreciation for what it is and how I should be enjoying/tasting it. If that meant sampling a lot of other whiskeys, and educating myself before hand, then so be it

Make sure you let us know what you decide

Karl Hungus

I'd agree that you should try and grow an appreciation for Whiskey before cracking open the Midleton. It'd certainly make a great treat at christmas, especially with friends.

RE*AC*TOR

While I respect the opinions given here, I say bollox to a lot of them. The Midleton was a present, you didn't spend anything on it, so why not go for it? In years you could look back and say that was a great way to start drinking whisky. I wouldn't add ice or anything else, except if you like add a little still water (preferably filtered - especially if the water in your area has a noticeable taste). Then get a small tumbler and pour in about an inch. Sip at your leasure. If you are someone who does enjoy the finer things, then you shouldn't have any trouble enjoying it.

Carpé Diem!

PS right now I'm enjoying sipping some 12 year old Yamazaki single malt.

davros

Brockagh wrote: »

I think Midleton Very Rare is an excellent introduction to whiskey, because it is very mellow.

Spot on. I wouldn't go adding water to it either because it has a very thin taste to begin with.

Go ahead and enjoy it. It's not as rare as it claims

johnnyskeleton

ledar wrote: »

You'd seriously suggest using Midleton in an irish coffee. Wow. Why not just load it up with red bull and drink it through a straw? You know, if you like it that way...

Stephen

You're probably right - adding midleton to an irish coffee would be a waste of good coffee.