Midleton Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 18 hours ago
Midleton Distillery in County Cork is where most of the Irish whiskey sold under the Jameson, Midleton, Powers, Redbreast, Spot and Paddy labels is made. The name covers two sites side by side, the Old Midleton Distillery and the New Midleton Distillery.
In this guide
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Midleton at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery | Midleton |
Country / region | County Cork, Ireland |
Owner / producer | Irish Distillers / Pernod Ricard |
History | The Old Midleton Distillery began operating in 1825. In 1966 John Jameson merged with Cork Distillers and John Power to form the Irish Distillers Group. |
Whisky identity | Irish distillery supplying several pot still and blended labels |
Visiting | Check the current official visiting arrangements before travelling. |
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At a glance
Location: Midleton, County Cork, Ireland
Owner: Irish Distillers, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard since 1988
Old Midleton Distillery: operated from 1825 to 1975, now home to the Jameson Experience Visitor Centre and the Irish Whiskey Academy, and the original home of the Paddy label
New Midleton Distillery: opened in 1975 beside the old one; Jameson's Wikipedia page places the Dublin closures in 1976 after the new distillery opened
Main brands made here: Jameson, Midleton, Powers, Redbreast, Spot and Paddy
History in chapters
1825 to 1966
The Old Midleton Distillery began operating in 1825. In 1966 John Jameson merged with Cork Distillers and John Power to form the Irish Distillers Group.
1975 to 1976: the new distillery
The New Midleton Distillery opened in 1975. In 1976 the Dublin distilleries of Jameson in Bow Street and John's Lane were closed, and production moved to Midleton. In the 1970s Irish Distillers also closed its other distilleries and consolidated production there, which is how Tullamore D.E.W. came to be made at Midleton for years.
1988 to today
Pernod Ricard acquired Irish Distillers in 1988, bringing the Jameson brand with it. Our news post covers Pernod Ricard's plans for a new Midleton distillery.
The Jameson story
John Jameson (1740 to 1823), a lawyer from Alloa in Scotland, founded his Dublin distillery in 1780 at Bow Street. He married Margaret Haig, daughter of Scottish distiller John Haig, in 1768. They had 16 children
John Jameson II took over in 1805 and handed the business to John Jameson III in 1851. The company was incorporated as John Jameson and Son Ltd in 1901
Jameson sales passed 1 million cases in 1996, 3 million in 2010 and 8 million in 2019
On 12 May 2023 Irish Distillers said it would stop exporting Jameson to Russia, after the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland called for a boycott in April 2023
How it is made
Jameson is a blend of grain whiskey and single pot still whiskey. The pot still element uses malted and unmalted Irish barley sourced within a fifty mile radius of the distillery in Cork. The barley is dried in a closed kiln fired by natural gas, formerly anthracite coal, rather than peat.
Awards
Jameson 18 Year Old won gold and double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition between 2005 and 2010. The Rarest Reserve also won gold and double gold there. In 2018 Jameson 18 Year Old Bow Street won Best Irish Blended Whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Awards in its price class.
Notable releases
Jameson Crested, formerly Crested Ten: launched in 1963 as Jameson's oldest bottled brand, 40% ABV, mostly aged 7 to 8 years, about 60% pot still and 40% grain whiskey
Jameson 18 Bow Street, finished in the maturation warehouse at the Bow Street site and bottled at cask strength
Jameson Rarest Reserve
Visiting
The Jameson Experience Visitor Centre sits in the Old Midleton Distillery. Separately, the old Jameson Distillery on Bow Street in Dublin is a museum offering tours and tastings. It no longer makes whiskey, was renovated for 12.6 million dollars finishing in March 2016, and has a working maturation warehouse. Check the official sites for booking.
What the owner says about Midleton
Irish Distillers describes itself as a Pernod Ricard company and the maker of the Jameson, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, Powers, Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness and Knappogue Castle brands. All of these are named by Irish Distillers as made at Midleton Distillery (Irish Distillers press release, 29 January 2025).
The 200 year story, as Irish Distillers tells it
Irish Distillers says the Murphy family first acquired the distillery in 1825.
In 1867 local distilleries were amalgamated into the Cork Distilleries Company, and Midleton became part of it.
In 1966 the Cork Distilleries Company merged with John Power and Son and John Jameson and Son to form Irish Distillers.
In 1975 a new, purpose-built distillery was constructed just steps from the original site. The press release also says the Midleton site was expanded to host the move of the Power and Jameson distilling houses. The Old Midleton Distillery operated from 1825 to 1975.
The 2025 bicentennial programme included a Roll of Time, a bound archive of restored labels from 1825 to 2025, led by Head of Archives Carol Quinn and bound by Paul Curtis of Muckross Bookbindery. The Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection ended in 2025 with Chapter Six, a 50 year old expression drawn from whiskey ranging from 45 to 50 years old, the last release from the Old Midleton Distillery stocks. Barley Purchase Books from the 1820s and 1830s were also due to be searchable on Ancestry.
People and awards
Kevin O'Gorman is named as Master Distiller at Irish Distillers.
Nodjame Fouad is named as CEO of Irish Distillers.
Midleton Distillery was named Most Awarded International Distillery at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, with 41 medals: 21 Double Gold, 10 Gold and 9 Platinum, plus 9 Best of Class finalists (Irish Distillers press release, 10 June 2025).
Midleton Very Rare dates from 1984 and Irish Distillers presents it as the brand that defined ultra premium Irish whiskey. A 2026 Vintage release was announced in March 2026.
FAQ
Who owns Midleton Distillery?
Irish Distillers, part of Pernod Ricard.
What is the difference between Old and New Midleton?
The Old Midleton Distillery ran from 1825 to 1975 and is now a visitor centre. The New Midleton Distillery opened in 1975 alongside it and produces the whiskey.
Which brands are made at Midleton?
Jameson, Midleton, Powers, Redbreast, Spot and Paddy.
Is Jameson still made in Dublin?
No. Bow Street closed as a production site in 1976 and is now a museum.
Who founded Jameson?
John Jameson, who founded the Dublin distillery in 1780.
How much Jameson is sold?
Annual sales passed 8 million cases in 2019.
Does Jameson use peat?
No. The barley kiln is fired by natural gas.
What happened in 1966?
Jameson, Cork Distillers and Power merged to form Irish Distillers.
Sources
Facts come from the Wikipedia articles on Midleton Distillery and Jameson Irish Whiskey, read on 19 October 2026. They have not yet been checked against the official distillery website, which did not load in this run. Whisky Clan does not publish tasting notes in its distillery profiles.
Further sources and gaps
Further sources checked and gaps (20 October 2026): Irish Distillers press releases of 29 January 2025 and 10 June 2025, the Roll of Time page and the Irish Distillers home page (irishdistillers.ie). The Irish Distillers distillery page and the Jameson visitor page returned 404 or a country block, so visitor hours, tour prices and ABVs for the Midleton brands are NOT verified here. Capacity and still numbers are not verified. Check before publishing.
What makes Midleton distinctive?
Irish distillery supplying several pot still and blended labels.
Midleton whisky bottles and releases
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Jameson Original | NAS / release varies | Check bottle | Irish distillery supplying several pot still and blended labels |
Redbreast 12 Year Old | 12 years | Check bottle | Irish distillery supplying several pot still and blended labels |
Green Spot Irish Whiskey | NAS / release varies | Check bottle | Irish distillery supplying several pot still and blended labels |
Midleton whisky bottle photograph
Redbreast 12 Year Old single pot still Irish whiskey bottle, photographed in 2011
The table records named expressions, not live stock. Bottle strength and cask treatment can vary by market and release. Always consult the producer.
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Midleton
Where is Midleton based?
County Cork, Ireland.
Who owns Midleton?
Irish Distillers / Pernod Ricard.
What is notable about Midleton?
Irish distillery supplying several pot still and blended labels.
Which bottles does Midleton have?
Jameson Original, Redbreast 12 Year Old, Green Spot Irish Whiskey. Releases and availability change.
Can you visit Midleton?
Check the distillery's official visitor or tour information before making travel plans.
Sources and editorial checks
The original history, references and research remain in this guide. Whisky range and visitor information may change.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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