In 1825, Ireland’s economy was dominated by agriculture, but changes in legislation paved the way for large-scale whiskey production. This helped Irish whiskey increasingly find its way beyond the shores of the Emerald Isle. The Murphy brothers — James, Daniel, and Jeremiah — members of a mercantile family from nearby Cork city, opened Midleton Distillery on the site of a woollen mill built next to the Dungourney River. The location was ideal: clean running water, proximity to barley fields, and the transport infrastructure of Cork Harbour nearby.

“We’re doing the same thing, that same craft, 200 years later,” O’Gorman reflects. “It’s continuing to be an incredible journey.”

Success, however, was never linear. Through economic hardship, political upheaval, two world wars, and Prohibition, Midleton endured. In the 1860s, the distillery joined with four other producers to form the Cork Distilleries Company (CDC). In 1966, the ‘big three’: Cork Distilleries Company, John Jameson & Son, and John Power & Son, united as Irish Distillers, securing the future of Irish whiskey with Midleton as its home.

Production at the original Midleton site ran until 1975, in what’s now known as the Old Distillery. “The old pot still — the largest in the world — was installed there. It was a remarkable feat of engineering for the time,” says O’Gorman.

Today, Midleton is home to some of the world’s most well-known whiskey brands – Jameson, the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey*; Redbreast, the quintessential single pot still whiskey; Midleton Very Rare, the pinnacle of Irish whiskey; Powers; the Spot Range; and Method And Madness. Few distilleries in the world produce such range while maintaining precision, individuality, and consistency.

“Each of those brands has its own DNA and traits,” O’Gorman notes. “We have so much history, going back through our previous master distillers. It’s a handing on of the baton over many, many years, in terms of our tradition and craft.”

Having been with the distillery for over 25 years, O’Gorman has worked across every stage of whiskey making and highlights the team as the driving force behind this success. “At the heart of Midleton is a collective purpose and passion,” says O’Gorman. “We have a culture of listening, bringing people with us — a team approach. There are no shortcuts; everything is done right. Everybody here is motivated by producing amazing whiskeys, and the award recognises decades of dedication, craftsmanship, and passion.”

Maintaining a reputation of quality for 200 years requires the ability to evolve without losing the distillery’s essence. “It’s an important balance,” says O’Gorman. “Over the last 20 years, we’ve pushed the boundaries. We’re not afraid to try different things. That balance is what defines Midleton.”

Innovation is embedded in the distillery’s culture, from cask experimentation and distillation techniques to new expressions that complement its heritage whiskeys. “In 2017, we released a Method and Madness Single Pot Still finished in a French Chestnut cask,” O’Gorman recalls. “I remember our first taste — myself and master blender emeritus Billy Leighton — and we thought, ‘Wow, this is special.’ ”

This experimentation resulted in Jameson Triple Triple, a blend that sees Jameson’s bourbon and sherry cask whiskeys introduced to chestnut wood casks. Winning Double Gold and Best Blended Whiskey overall at the SFWSC, Triple Triple became a permanent part of the Jameson family. 

And then there’s Midleton Very Rare, the benchmark for luxury Irish whiskey since 1984. “Barry Crockett created the first Midleton Very Rare Vintage Release to showcase the best of our grain and pot still whiskeys,” explains O’Gorman. “He wanted to bring together those two styles, that’s why it was a blend, and still is today.” Since then, the Midleton Very Rare collection has evolved to become the very pinnacle of Irish whiskey craftsmanship.

“Every vintage is different, but it always has the same character: elegance, balance and complexity.” This year’s 2025 Vintage marks a particularly significant moment. For the first time ever, O’Gorman has included six distinct distillates produced at Midleton in the vintage, to honour 200 years of distilling tradition at Midleton.

Another emotional milestone came with the final instalment in the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection: the 50-year-old Chapter Six, drawn from the last casks distilled at Old Midleton. “It represents everything good about Midleton, old and new. It’s incredibly emotional, almost sad in ways, because it is the last whiskey from the Old Distillery,” O’Gorman reflects. “Nostalgia, pride, honour… it’s all in there. Those casks are living history, and to release the final chapter feels like closing a beautiful and very special book.

“Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is a whiskey whose excellence is shaped by so many factors. From the characteristics of the incredibly rare single pot still distillate style created in Old Midleton, to the 50-year maturation process, to a one-of-a-kind final marrying, this whiskey has been looked after like no other. Previous master distillers Max and Barry Crockett, master distiller Brian Nation, master cooper Ger Buckley, and I, alongside the Midleton Distillery family past and present, have been a team over many decades, nurturing this liquid to achieve its peak.”  

As the distillery celebrates 200 years of distilling tradition, O’Gorman looks forward: “Irish whiskey is becoming an increasingly significant player in the higher-end whiskey market, with super-premium, prestige, and ultra-rare Irish whiskeys. Things have moved on considerably, with the launch of new and very rare whiskeys such as the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection, Ireland’s oldest ever whiskey collection; Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais; and Redbreast 27 Years Old.”

O’Gorman concludes: “Our offerings are competing with the best for luxury whiskey consumers and collectors, paving the way for a new era in luxury whiskey. And that’s where Irish whiskey belongs.”

*According to IWSR Report 2024