Method and Madness Single Pot Still Finished in Virgin Hungarian Oak

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

2d Fill Bourbon Barrels and Virgin Hungarian Casks Finish

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Pot Still

Edited in 2018

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

A new experiment from the micro-distillery based in Midleton. After a first Single Pot Still aged partly in chestnut casks, which I did not have the honour of tasting, here is a second attempt to highlight the traditional method of production of Irish whiskey, with virgin casks from Hungary.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's young, fresh and very cereal-like, with barley, wheat and millet. Not very fruity, though. Barely a hint of vanilla. Very simple. But effective. Thyme and chives. Sweet on the palate, easy to drink. Honey, coated with a little lemon pulp. A few spices. White pepper and cardamom on the finish. Nutmeg and chestnut. Reasonably long and deep. It really hits the back of the throat. They're staying with the Irish whiskey theme, but with a few more original touches.

 

In Short, 

It's nice and original. The cereal and spice are there, and there are a few other flavours too. That said, my enthusiasm is measured, it's still a little too smooth for my taste.

Note : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Dolores Keane - Place In My Heart

Method and Madness 2002 Single Malt 14 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery :Old Bushmills - Ireland

2nd Fill Bourbon Barrels and Virgin Oak Limousin Hogsheads 

Original Bottling

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

This Single Malt, produced at the Method and Madness micro-distillery in Midleton, is a surprising experiment. First of all, the juice was distilled in Bushmills and not in Midleton itself! This dates back to the time when Bushmills belonged to Irish Distillers, the current owners of Midleton. Secondly, it is a blend of 2nd fill bourbon casks and Limousin virgin oak.

Let's Taste It : 

Although rather pleasant, the nose is nothing exceptional: slightly spicy malt, freshly cut young wood, ethereal vanilla. On the palate, a touch of caramel and molasses, lemon and almond, chestnuts, then a peppery, spicy, somewhat fruity finish. Quinces, orange peel, bananas. It's not bad, but despite some distinctive features, it struggles to stand out and assert itself. The typical Irish whiskey character is lost in an experimentation that yields few results.

 

In Short,

What's the point of copying Scotch whiskies? While I was thrilled by the Single Grain in the same range, this bottling doesn't seem very conclusive to me. When you experiment, there are bound to be failures.

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           The Corrs - Breathless

Nikka Super Revival

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Yoichi, Miyagikyo - Japan

Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Whisky

Bottled in 2015

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

In 1962, Masataka Taketsuru, the creator of Nikka, launched Nikka Super in tribute to his Scottish-born wife, who had died a year earlier. It was a runaway success. Nikka was subsequently bought by Asahi Breweries in 2001, and the Super recipe was modified. In 2015, the group's blenders found a copy of the original 1962 Super, and set about reproducing it identically. The result is this limited edition, slightly peatier and with more Yoichi malt than the Super available today. It quickly sold out.

Let's Taste It :

Lemon and wood, with a certain depth, slightly astringent, acid, blood orange, gooseberry, and some floral fragrances, tulips, hawthorn. Delicate smoke which adds structure. On the palate, grainy peat, a balance of wood and chocolate drink, hazelnuts, peanuts, chantilly, and still that slight acidity behind. The finish is quite strong and leaves a good impression, with red fruits, blueberry and blackcurrant. Moderately long. Earth and chocolate, heather, bushes.

 

In Short, 

In my opinion, it's not bad at all, it's easy to drink. Red fruits and chocolate with a slight hint of peat. The price is right, it's a shame it's sold out, you'd be tempted.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Dirtmusic - Bi De Sen Söyle 

Redbreast 12 yo

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland 

Oloroso Sherry Casks and Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling

Core Range 

Single Pot Still

Launched in 1991

Totally Unpeated

After being taken over by Irish Distillers in 1986, the Redbreast brand was relaunched in 1991 with this sherry-dominated 12-year-old, still Single Pot Still as tradition demands. It went on to establish itself as the best and most representative expression of Irish whiskey.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Perfect balance in every aspect, from the nose to the finish. This is a great classic. Round, deep and quite woody, the sherry is not at all overpowering, there's just enough to make the whole thing work. Cerealy and malty on the nose, more on pumpkin and butternut than red fruits. Palate a tad clear but sweet with a touch of paprika. The finish is very long, with hints of marzipan and even speculoos. A few spices, paprika, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric. Really well done.

 

In Short, 

It's obviously a must-have for anyone with even the slightest interest in Irish whiskey. Personally, I liked it, but it's a little light on power, too smooth, and it's not for me, I prefer peat.

Scoree : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday 

Jura Seven Wood

 

 

 

42°

Distillery : Isle of Jura - Islands

Ex-Bourbon, French Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles and Bertranges Casks

Original Bottling

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

A small record for this new expression and its sevenfold maturation, mainly in French wine casks. It has become the symbol of a new turning point for the distillery.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very woody nose, sandalwood, blueberry, baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon, a touch of smoke. On the palate, the influence of French wine casks can be felt : heather earth, dark chocolate, forest fragrances, humus, walnuts. Quite warm and complex. Clusters of grapes, wood bark, fig. Paprika, blood orange, saffron. The finish is moderately long, vegetal and fruity, with a hint of the distillery's hallmarks, apricot, orange jam. Damp earth at the end.

 

In Short, 

It's really not bad, relatively complex, not too young, original. But this time, it's the price that is the problem, which is a shame.

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Big Peat 10 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Bowmore, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Port Ellen - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the standard Big Peat Small Batch edition, Douglas Laing's is offering this 10-year-old in a limited edition of 5,100. Apart from the longer maturation, the recipe appears to be unchanged.

Let's Taste It : 

A very bourbon profile, vanilla yoghurt, lemon meringue pie, candied lemon, a bit of almond and iodised salt. At 10 years of age, it's quite full-bodied, with varnished wood and soft caramel, but the peat isn't as strong as I would have expected. Yet it's there, maritime, heavy, fresh and spicy. On the palate, the bourbon flavours are a little overpowering. Where are the characteristics of the whiskies from this island, which I like a lot? The finish is good though, relatively long, charcoal, earth, mint candy.

 

In Short, 

I don't see what this aged version adds to the standard one. What's more, the bourbon is too intense for me. But maybe I've missed something, I should try it again. For now, my verdict is that it's nice, but nothing more.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Jean-Jacques Milteau - For What It's Worth

Smokehead Sherry Bomb 2019

 

 

 

48°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

The first batch of the Sherry Bomb was released in 2018, and it was such a success that every year since then they've offered an additional one. This is the second edition.

Let's Taste It : 

Sherry and charcoal. A deep, flavoursome sherry, quite suave, and then this powerful, herbaceous touch that makes me think of a specific distillery, whose name begins with the first letter of the alphabet. Very ripe red plums, morello cherries, quince jam, drowned in fairly thick peat. And a slightly caramelised, grimy charcoal that adds structure to the whole. The peat gradually becomes suffocating. Cinnamon, brown sugar. On the palate, very sweet at first, grenadine syrup, raspberry, resin, liquid honey, then the spices rise, chilli, peppermint, clove, ginger, mustard, a dash of nutmeg, a pinch of salt. The finish is earthy and vinous, with heather, damp bark and a hint of caramel. Cumin, cocoa beans, very slightly bitter.

 

In Short,

It's a great success. For an independent bottling with no age statement, this is as good as it gets. I wonder if this isn't the best blend Smokehead has made since launching the range. The price is a little high, but not enough not to tempt you.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Dream Theater - Untethered Angel

The Hakushu Distiller's Reserve

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Hakushu - Japan

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and American White Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2014

Almost Unpeated

In 2014, with the pressure on aged Single Malt stocks becoming increasingly intense, Suntory decided to release the Distiller's Reserve, with no mention of age. This one is based on a blend of a very old whisky, 18 years old, aged in American casks, a reasonably old whisky, 12 years old, aged in Bourbon casks, and a third much younger whisky, less than 10 years old, aged in Bourbon casks. Reported as "Slightly Peated", it is in fact very lightly peated, between 2 and 5 ppm.

Let's Taste It : 

I can feel the light, herbaceous peat. It's like being in the forest, a fairly dense pine forest on a rainy spring day. Heather, humidity, moss, pine needles, a running stream. Fresh iodine in the background. Eucalyptus. On the palate, more peat and damp, limestone earth, it's grassy but not bitter, rather warm. A hint of aniseed and tarragon. Quite a long finish, the vegetal peat rises again, with fairly intense notes of green tea and bay leaves. A really good whisky.

 

In Short, 

I'm really enjoying it. It's original, and quite complex at the same time. What's more, it seemed much peatier than what I'd read, and so much the better. It's a shame that, once again a victim of its own success, this bottling has ended up being overpriced.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           George Winston - Woods