Style: Single pot still whiskey finished in Garryana oak
Age: No age statement
Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Region: Midleton, County Cork, Ireland
Ireland’s historic Midleton distillery is home to some of the most iconic and well known Irish whiskeys in the world. Jameson and Red Breast are distilled by the Midleton distillery, and so is their boutique brand, Method and Madness. The Method and Madness brand first began six years ago when the experimental micro-distillery on the Midleton grounds opened its doors.
The goal of Method and Madness is to push the boundaries of Irish whiskey by experimenting with different grains, historic mash bills, and most notably, wood finishes. The latest offering from Method and Madness is a cask-strength, single pot still Irish whiskey finished in barrels made of Garryana oak from the United States Pacific Northwest. How does Garryana oak affect the flavor of Irish whiskey? Find out below.
Tasting notes
On the nose, there are clear notes of apple, toasted bread, raisins, and baking spice with a strong woody note that permeates everything. On the palate, the sweet grain and orchard fruit that I normally expect from a single pot still whiskey is present, think a spiced pear tart.
The Garryana oak makes its presence known even more here, with a toasty, tannic presence that balances out the treacly nature of the base distillate. The palate finishes with a burst of cinnamon, black pepper, and clove and floats to a gentle landing with notes of honey and pear.
Final thoughts
It’s safe to say that this experiment with Garryana oak was a success for Method and Madness. Critics of Irish whiskey often point to a perceived lack of depth or complexity throughout the category. In this specific whiskey, the influence of the Garryana oak adds an ever-present, but not overwhelming tannic, oaky note along with a burst of freshly cracked black pepper and clove that add a perfect amount of balance to the strong flavors of orchard fruit and pastry.
This whiskey also shows a remarkable degree of restraint on the part of the distillers — any more time spent in contact with the Garryana may have turned this into an over-oaked, bitter, tannic mess. Instead, this whiskey is a balanced, fun, and satisfying pour.
