Method and Madness Wild Cherry 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
What they say
METHOD AND MADNESS is a spirit brand hatched from the minds of the Masters and Apprentices of Midleton Distillery. Our foundation of shared knowledge is unique to the Midleton. When great minds collide, incredible creations can emerge. At Midleton, our Master and Apprentice relationship runs deep, with generations of know how meshing with restless curiosity. There will be trial, and error, and brilliant bottled breakthroughs that start with “What if?” Restless hearts making inspired spirits.
Innovation is nothing new to Midleton, but the new microdistillery has provided the copper canvas for experimentation to run free. The whiskeys coming out of this distillers’ playground provide a new taste from Irish whiskey history.
“WE BOTTLED A WHOLE LOT OF CURIOSITY”
Finbarr Curran, Apprentice Bond Operations
Curiosity got the better of us, but the result was better than we could have hoped.
A world first, this limited-edition release is a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, finished in wild cherry wood casks.
Wood from the cherry tree is characterised by its porousness; adding complex flavours of fine wine, capers and ginger spice.
Official tasting notes:
- Nose: Box Hedge clippings, shredded ginger and coconut fibre.
- Taste: Fresh green herbs, black tea and pot still spices.
- Finish: Long and fresh, prickly spice and toasted hazelnut.
What I say
So my first Method and Madness whisky from the Midleton Distillery and Irish Distillers. Part of a pair of Irish pot still whiskeys that are matured in a wooden cask – thanks to the looseness of the Irish whiskey regulations this allows the use of wood other than the Scotch whisky demanded oak!
My tasting notes:
- Appearance: 18ct gold (7/20), slow, well-defined, medium-fine tears and thin legs.
- Nose: Toasted wood, spiced unmalted barley, sharp citrus, possibly woody grapefruit, sweet banana, ginger and vanilla.
- Taste: Woody, spiced and gingery, a little thin and grain-like spirit character, crisp unmalted barley, spiced black and white pepper, banana split dessert, green and overstewed/tannic black tea.
- Finish: Medium-short, creamy, thin, sweet but tannic and spicy.
Overall
Unusually woody but thin, a little sappy and pine-like rather than oak wood. Spirit and sappy with fresh pepper and ginger.
Score 81/100
Don’t take my word for it:
Bloggers submit link to your review
Share this:
Categories: Method and Madness
The Whiskyphiles 