Method and Madness Single Malt Irish Whiskey Finished in French Chestnut Casks
Method and Madness · Midleton Distillery
Midleton's experimental range finds genuine purpose here. The chestnut cask isn't gimmick — it contributes a tannin structure Irish whiskey rarely achieves, adding backbone without sacrificing the distillery's characteristic smoothness. An inventive and rewarding dram.
Nose
French chestnut cask finishing introduces an unusual tannin profile — toasted hazelnut and roasted almond ride alongside vanilla fudge and ripe peach. Subtle floral rosewater notes emerge with air.
Palate
Medium-bodied with a silky mouthfeel. Honey and dried fruit dominate the early palate, followed by clove spice and a distinctive woody, almost chestnut-like nuttiness that distinguishes it from standard sherry finishes.
Finish
Medium-long, with lingering spice, cocoa, and a dry tannic grip from the chestnut wood that adds structure.
- Distillation
- Triple distilled in copper pot stills
- Maturation
- Initially matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished in virgin French chestnut wood casks
- Single Pot Still
- No
- Chill-Filtered
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
Chestnut Old Fashioned — 2 oz Method and Madness Single Malt · 0.25 oz maple syrup · 2 dashes walnut bitters · Stir over ice for 20 seconds, strain into a rocks glass with a large cube, express an orange peel.
Food Pairing
A wedge of 18-month Comté alongside roasted walnuts and honeycomb. The cheese's nutty, caramelized character and the honey's floral sweetness interlock with the whiskey's chestnut-driven palate.
Created by the apprentice distillers at Midleton's micro-distillery in Cork, where experimental cask finishes push the boundaries of traditional Irish whiskey-making under the guidance of master blenders.
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