Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Review

Sprouting from the earth near Castle Blunden Estate in County Kilkenny is a forest of Irish Oak dubbed the Bluebell Forest. A forest which gets its name from the bluebells that carpet the forest floor. From this location, 6 130-year-old trees were felled (carefully) and shipped to Barilla in north-west Spain. This was the beginning of the journey for the Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey.

At the Maderbar Sawmills in Baralla, the trees were carefully cut into staves. From there they were shipped to Jerez where they dried for 15 months at the Antonio Páez Lobato cooperage. Once the staves were ready they were fashioned into 29 Hogshead casks, lightly toasted and then shipped back to Ireland where Kevin O'Gorman, Head of Maturation, and Billy Leighton, Master Blender, were prepping the whiskey.

Sourcing only from ex-Bourbon barrels, to keep the spirit shining forward, the whiskey used ranged from 12 to 23-years-old and blended together before going into one of the 29 Hogshead casks. Every month after that Billy and Kevin tasted the casks till they felt they were ready to be bottled at cask strength, and minimal filtration, to preserve the whiskey's character.

Each Hogshead came from one of 6 trees, the Irish Whiskey I'm reviewing today came from Tree 3.

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Review: Details and Tasting Notes

"Irish Distillers has unveiled the next chapter in its Virgin Irish Oak Collection of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys; Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest edition. This exceptional offering has been finished in barrels made from Irish oak grown in the Bluebell Forest of Castle Blunden Estate in County Kilkenny, imparting a true and unique flavour of Ireland."

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Ireland

Distiller: Midleton
Mash Bill: Malted and Un-malted barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & Virgin Irish Oak
Age: NAS (13.5 years)
ABV: 56.2%

Tree: 3

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Price: $300+

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes

NOSE
Toffee, biscuity, malty sweet, honey, caramel, copper, butterscotch and some bits of spice, nuts, oak and cocoa.

PALATE
Buttery toffee, copper, nuts, citrus, oak, spice, honey and a touch of cocoa and char.

FINISH
Short -> Toffee, oak and spice.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, medium body that ran on the hot side of things.

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Review: Overall and Score

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey is a good whiskey, but it's a bit light, a bit muted. The aroma drifted out of the glass was soft and light but carried a complex wave of dark sweets butted up against buttery and spicy undertones.

The Palate was more oak forward and rustic but didn't have nearly the complexity and came across lighter than the aroma. The finish was almost non-existent.

The longer the Dair Ghaelach Bluebell sat the more oak came out, it also seemed the longer it sat the shorter the finish got. Once water is added it basically disappeared.

Adding a splash of water killed the butteriness on the aroma and the palate making it sharp and a bit astringent. The finish was the biggest downfall and if you get it I'd be cautious with the water.

SCORE: 86/100 (B)

Big thanks to Robert for this Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey sample!