Midleton 2010.

[John]

I see that the Midleton VR 2010 Ed. has hit the shops. It would be interesting to see what differences there are between it and the 2009 release. Still no major price reductions in Ireland on either release though which is a bit odd, after all, the 2011 release date can't be that far away....

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I see that the Midleton VR 2010 Ed. has hit the shops. It would be interesting to see what differences there are between it and the 2009 release. Still no major price reductions in Ireland on either release though which is a bit odd, after all, the 2011 release date can't be that far away....

I doubt you will ever see a decrease on the Midleton prices and to be fair they are quite relative according to market.

In relation to the release date it has actually always been the end of the year (possibly for the Christmas market) so you will not see the 201 till this time next year ...

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Interestingly this is for sale in Midleton at €129 compared to the regular price of €145

[John]

I hear what you're saying IWC however I can still pick up a bottle in the UK from £70 - £88 depending on the outlet. Even with the currency differential that is still a much, much better deal than anything I've ever seen on this side of the water. The argument is 'old-hat' of course at this stage. Clearly the UK (and Euro) retailers are more interested in turning over stock by being more price competitive. I would imagine that come the 2011 release date here there will still be ample stocks of 2008, 2009 & 2010 available. As a by the way, with that much stock kicking about I can't see how IDL manage to seriously stand over the 'VR' status of the beverage!

[JohnM]

I hear what you're saying IWC however I can still pick up a bottle in the UK from £70 - £88 depending on the outlet. Even with the currency differential that is still a much, much better deal than anything I've ever seen on this side of the water. The argument is 'old-hat' of course at this stage. Clearly the UK (and Euro) retailers are more interested in turning over stock by being more price competitive. I would imagine that come the 2011 release date here there will still be ample stocks of 2008, 2009 & 2010 available. As a by the way, with that much stock kicking about I can't see how IDL manage to seriously stand over the 'VR' status of the beverage!

I have heard the margins are much larger outside Ireland, so they're probably getting it at a much cheaper price in the first place.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I hear what you're saying IWC however I can still pick up a bottle in the UK from £70 - £88 depending on the outlet. Even with the currency differential that is still a much, much better deal than anything I've ever seen on this side of the water.

True, and I've seen the deals myself but the official retail price on Midleton in the UK is circa £110. The whole premise of Midleton has always been to be a premium product. It's just a shame that they do the same with the Jameson Gold and 18yo which I feel is totally out of line with both relavant market prices in other countries and position for similar products but then we now have Redbreast 15 which is a positive move in the right direction.

[varizoltan]

if they reduce the price of the Midleton VR, then the old bottles will lose their value as collectible items, and the hardly got together full collections will worth a lot less,

the VR is known the most sought after collectable Irish whiskey know everywhere in the world, they be mad to reduce that price

as a collector, i like to get them cheaper, but if it is too cheap, than it is not worth too much in the future

as Redbreast 15 was only 120 in Ireland, everywhere else 60-75, and now it is back to the normal price here too,
but the VR was always around the 120-140 mark, except a few duty free shop in the UK airports

[IainB]

I suppose the other point is that we're looking at this from the viewpoint of "amateur whiskey experts", if you know what I mean. For most people who like Irish whiskey but aren't into it in a mad way, this is the ultimate Irish whiskey. I think that's mostly based on the price and the fact that it is very very smooth.

[IainB]

I'm tasting this now alongside the 2008 and 2009 vintage. Funnily enough, in the context of a discussion on another topic about whether caramel is added, the 2010 seems slightly darker in colour than the other 2.

Impression so far are the 2008 has the best nose - clean non sherried pot still. Can't get as much off the other 2 but I do have a bit of a cold. 2008 though I can definitely get - it's been open a while, the other 2 just tonight - can that have an effect, in this case positive.

Will come back on taste shortly.

[IainB]

The 2008 is my favourite. I haven't read JM's review but I can see where he's coming from in terms of caramelisation. It's possible that average age of the whiskeys is slightly older and that there's a natural caramelisation going on but the clean pot still that's there on the 08 seems a little more overpowered by something quite sweet on the other, particularly the 10. Then again, I smoke so my taste buds are probably in bits anyway.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Impression so far are the 2008 has the best nose - clean non sherried pot still. Can't get as much off the other 2 but I do have a bit of a cold. 2008 though I can definitely get - it's been open a while, the other 2 just tonight - can that have an effect, in this case positive.

Yes Iain, I think a whiskey can improve after a time of being opened ... it can also go the other way too though

Sometimes when I open a new but cheap blend I get loads of flavour from the first taste but then usually after a while it settles to something a bit less. However a lot of whiskeys that seem closed when you first open the bottle seem to reveal themselves aftera fwe weeks. It's all part of the fun really.

I have 3 powers open ... a PPS and late70's/80's blend and a current one ... quite intersting but my head is wrecked (tired and can't really concentrate on them

[IainB]

I think I read a review of Midleton by Dave Broom once where he suggested leaving a glass to breathe overnight before drinking it.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I think I read a review of Midleton by Dave Broom once where he suggested leaving a glass to breathe overnight before drinking it.

Just like the spitoon Idea ... don't think I could do that either

[John]

Midleton 2010 reduced to €130 at the Celtic Whiskey Shop.
Decent price imo

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Last time I checked €129 for the Midleton at the distillery.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

@irishwhiskeychaser...

Love to hear how you get on with those Powers head-to-head, please let us know what you think,