Method and Madness Acacia Wood

Method and Madness Acacia Wood (46%, OB, 2500 Bottles, 2019)

ABV: 46%
Age: NAS
Bottling: OB
Category: Irish single pot still whiskey
Cost: €92 available from Celtic Whisky Shop.com
Origin: Midleton distillery
Vintage: undeclared

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What they say

“WHEN GREAT MINDS COLLIDE, UNTOLD CREATIVITY POURS OUT”

Kevin O’Gorman, Master of Maturation

How would acacia wood casks, famous for ageing French white wines, impact our Irish whiskey? A postulation with a perfect result: a world first for Single Pot Still.

This limited-edition release was initially matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks, then finished in acacia casks.

This calculated risk yields the rewards of the acacia’s tight grain, imparting a rich, nutty, chocolatey flavour, complemented by a mahogany hue.

Official tasting notes:

Nose: Sugared almond, wood spices and crushed cloves.
Taste: Coffee beans, dark chocolate and chilli oil.
Finish: Fading spices, charred wood and barley husk.

What I say

The second of our pairing of wood finishes to complement the Wild Cherry Wood finish was this Acacia wood limited edition. Imbuing a beautiful colour on the whisky already what did this one deliver…

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Dark bronze (13/20), fine tears, thin legs.
Nose: Spiced tobacco, cherry, date, woody cloves, walnut, dry cocoa powder, coffee, roasted almonds, sugar coated and roasted nuts.
Taste: Light bodied, roasted wood and dates, granary toast, nutty, Brazil nut, caramelised nuts from a street or fairground vendor, burnt and caramelized woody sugars.
Finish: Long, mouth-coating, candied nuts, polished and spirity.

Overall

Sweet and nutty, less spicy than the cherry wood edition, but still quite thin bodied, definitely my preferred one of the two – I’d love to see and try more acacia wood matured whisky/whiskey.

The Whiskyphiles

Method and Madness Acacia Wood