Method And Madness Cherry Wood-Finished Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Review

By Emma Briones

Rating: B

Method And Madness Cherry Wood Finish
(Credit: Irish Distillers)

There is always a first time for everything, even for a cherry-wood finished Irish whiskey. You might have never thought about whiskey aged in cherry wood, but at Midleton Distillery, they have.

The team behind the Method and Madness range has unveiled two new and experimental limited edition Irish whiskeys. If you haven’t heard about Method and Madness yet, it is a new brand of Irish whiskey created by Irish Distillers. These whiskeys are characterized by their focus on experimentation and for pushing the boundaries of Irish whiskeys with a perfect blend of tradition and fresh talent.

Method and Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Wild Cherry Wood is a world first, a Single Pot Still Irish whiskey that has been finished in nine casks crafted from wild cherry wood. The wild cherry wood has been sourced in France, and it is characterized by its porosity, which results in a significant interaction between the wood and the whiskey.

Method and Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Wild Cherry Wood has been bottled at 46% ABV.

The Whiskey
Method and Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Wild Cherry Wood is pale gold in the glass. On the nose is fresh, light and fruity, like a summer drink. It highlights sweet coconut, cantaloupe, and intense candied pineapple notes. There are also some light cherry wood aromas in the back. There is a bit of sweet white chocolate towards the end and a hint of grated ginger.

The whiskey is silky and medium-bodied. Extremely spicy on the tip of the tongue, it is a sweet explosion on the mouth. There are fresh herbal notes, like black tea and green herbs, but the high point is its candied side. It continues with strong fruity notes (coconut, pineapple, a hint of banana) mixed with toasted hazelnuts.

Method and Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Wild Cherry Wood has a sweet and long finish. Leaving an herbal touch on the palate.

Of all the Method and Madness whiskey range, this might be my less favorite but, still, it is a whiskey worth trying. The thing with the Method & Madness range is that there is always something that catches your eye (well, your palate in this case). It is a whiskey that keeps you guessing, hard to decipher. And that is the fun part about whiskey: tasting something new, discovering a new flavor profile, going a little bit further… This is a whiskey to try if you want to go further.

The Price

The new Method and Madness Single Pot Still finished in Wild Cherry Wood is available (officially) in six markets, including Ireland, the UK, and Global Travel Retail. It is priced at €92.