Midleton Press Event

[DavidH]

For those going to the distillery launch on our behalf, do we have any questions that can only be answered at the distillery? I would like to place the new SPS botlings in relation to Redbreast and Green Spot. We know that Green Spot is based on a heavier pot still spirit than Redbreast. What about the new ones?

Obviously there is significant sherry influence in both Redbreast and Green Spot. There is none at all in the new Midleton but how about the Powers?

How old are the whiskeys in the Midleton?

[Luke Gough]

Obviously there is significant sherry influence in both Redbreast and Green Spot. There is none at all in the new Midleton but how about the Powers?

Historically there has always been a Sherry component in the vatting of Powers, hence the inclusion of E150A caramel to hammer home the point...

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Obviously there is significant sherry influence in both Redbreast and Green Spot. There is none at all in the new Midleton but how about the Powers?

Historically there has always been a Sherry component in the vatting of Powers, hence the inclusion of E150A caramel to hammer home the point...

Correct Luke but the Powers is generally more Bourbon dominated. However I'm not sure if the inclusion of E150a has any relationship as to whether there is any sherry content or not in a blend.

Good idea though to have a list of questions.

Ratio's of SPS types in each bottling.

[Luke Gough]

Obviously there is significant sherry influence in both Redbreast and Green Spot. There is none at all in the new Midleton but how about the Powers?

Historically there has always been a Sherry component in the vatting of Powers, hence the inclusion of E150A caramel to hammer home the point...

Correct Luke but the Powers is generally more Bourbon dominated. However I'm not sure if the inclusion of E150a has any relationship as to whether there is any sherry content or not in a blend.

Good idea though to have a list of questions.

Ratio's of SPS types in each bottling.

Re ratio's of SPS types I'm almost sure that all Midleton distillery vattings have some sherry content to a greater (Jameson) or lesser (Powers) extent.

Old style Blue/Green/Yellow/Red Spot was purely sherry or port maturation depending on what hogshead/butt Mitchell's were finished with.

Or were the old Mitchell's whiskeys only a "wood finish"?

Another question!

[DavidH]

Old style Blue/Green/Yellow/Red Spot was purely sherry or port maturation depending on what hogshead/butt Mitchell's were finished with.

I thought Green Spot was only sherry. Half fino, half oloroso. So the Mitchell's website used to say.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Just happened to come across some notes I had on Greenspot which I thought I had lost on an old PC.

Whiskeys used are 7-8 years old. 25% Sherry content so I presume 75% Bourbon which actually is probably consistent to the price point of 6 to 7 years ago due to the expensive nature of sherry casks.

Further this is actually plenty of sherry content to give it a decent amount sherry character without the sherry dominating which is the case in the Greenspot. This info is possibly out of date as there is a suspicion that the whiskeys now used are around the 6 yo mark. Might be another question to ask the experts.

[DavidH]

Whiskeys used are 7-8 years old. 25% Sherry content so I presume 75% Bourbon which actually is probably consistent to the price point of 6 to 7 years ago due to the expensive nature of sherry casks.

In case it wasn't clear, my last post refers only to the old Green Spot. As you say, when maturation moved to Midleton, bourbon casks were introduced to the mix.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Whiskeys used are 7-8 years old. 25% Sherry content so I presume 75% Bourbon which actually is probably consistent to the price point of 6 to 7 years ago due to the expensive nature of sherry casks.

In case it wasn't clear, my last post refers only to the old Green Spot. As you say, when maturation moved to Midleton, bourbon casks were introduced to the mix.

Yes David, I knew that and was not correcting you or anything so hope it did not come across as that. I was just putting up some of the last information I had on it which in itself is many years out of date.

Just clarifying that I was clear on your clarity

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

Will the Green Spot be available outside Dublin?
No offence but i hate having to travel to Dublin for it,but such is my need!

[IainB]

Will the Green Spot be available outside Dublin?
No offence but i hate having to travel to Dublin for it,but such is my need!

Where are you based? I've seen it in an off licence in Youghal. I've seen the older bottling over the years in Galway, Westport and even Louisburg.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

I'm in Wexford.
I'm also keen on finding Writer's Tears and the new Pot Still releases locally.

[IainB]

Is there an O'Briens off licence anywhere nearby - I've seen the new Redbreast 12 packagaing and the Powers Johns Lane in some of them - with these in stock they may have the greenspot too.

[John]

Anyone know when the new Midleton Pure Pot Still is due out? The 'delay' is dragging on a bit at this stage - forget the packaging - just put the bottles on the shelves!

[matt]

Anyone know when the new Midleton Pure Pot Still is due out? The 'delay' is dragging on a bit at this stage - forget the packaging - just put the bottles on the shelves!

I was in the CWS on Monday. I also ask for it, and got told : 2 weeks ago we got informed that we will have them in 2 weeks

the also don't have it on the Airport yet.

But i don't think we half to wait to long anymore.

[John]

Thanks Matt!
All the best,
John.

[John]

Has anyone heard anymore about when/if this will be released; the market will have forgotten about it by the time it hits the shelves.
It's a shame that they had the pomp and ceremony launch so early because it seems like a wasted effort; if they were not able to supply shortly thereafter they were always going to loose the marketing momentum.

[Luke Gough]

I asked in Celtic Whiskey yesterday - still no release date!

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Maybe they are now awaiting the Launch of the Pure Pot Still site as this has gone on so long.

The launch was for all 4 bottlings really and not just the Powers Lane and Midleton Barry Crocket Legacy.

[varizoltan]

just got an email from IDL;


"Depending on the stock and ordering practices of individual retailers, it
should be on the shelves w/c 4th July."

so another 10 days, fingers crossed

we can start the countdown

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

La Maison du Whiskey have the Barry Crocket Legacy now
Here the link for those that can't wait.
http://www.whisky.fr/produit-377-midlet ... cy-46.html
Great shop too.no need to worry about language either!

[Luke Gough]

La Maison du Whiskey have the Barry Crocket Legacy now
Here the link for those that can't wait.
http://www.whisky.fr/produit-377-midlet ... cy-46.html
Great shop too.no need to worry about language either!

Good News, Great Site - the only one I've seen to date with a dedicated "Pure Pot Still" category.

A shop I would dearly (probably very dearly) like to visit!

[John]

I have two problems with this news.

Firstly, that a continental retailer has this release before anyone here - I mean come on IDL, for God's sake.

Secondly, when it was launched, every news item quoted an RRP of €160 - now this MdW retailer is retailing the bottle at €178.00! Going on past experience w.r.t. EU pricing that could mean very bad news for us here because the European retailers are almost always typically cheaper.

It is very hard to develop any form of brand loyalty or appreciation for what IDL are doing when they treat Irish consumers in this manner.

On a more positive note, Luke I also like their 'Pure Pot Still' section - a touch of class in my opinion!

[kurtbenoit]

I know this is a bit, well more than a bit, off topic but I've wanted to ask it before. On the Maison du Whiskey site is there a way of changing the page to english.

Back on topic, it is a disgrace that mainland europe is getting this on it's shelves before Ireland's retailers. Some angry emails to IDL are required me thinks.

[DavidH]

I have no information on what is leading to the staggered launch but there is significant red tape around alcohol labelling and it's different in each country. So it's possible that the bottling is released first where it gets the regulatory nod first. In that scenario, instead of holding every market back until they are all ready to go, the whiskey is being released as early as possible to whiskey drinkers.

Just speculation, of course. Plus I'm already sorted because I favoured the John's Lane of the two new SPS whiskeys

[John]

I have no information on what is leading to the staggered launch but there is significant red tape around alcohol labelling and it's different in each country

That's the problem right there David. No-one has any information. All we know is that for whatever silly reason, a product made here won't be released here until certain other markets have been supplied. Also, that the retail price will be dearer than people were originally lead to believe.

I can't imagine France's market entry rules to be less stringent than Ireland's. In fact, the EU as whole has almost the same trade terms - save some differing label & language descriptors. And it's not like the product appeared out of thin air; years of planning would have gone into the development and launch of this.

As a Society we should send some form of correspondance to the distillery highlighting how Irish consumers are being put to the back of the line. It shouldn't be all one-way communication in terms of them simply showing up whenever they want to sell us something new. Loyalty is a two way street!!