With Method and Madness Garryana Oak, Ireland Channels the Pacific Northwest
February 2, 2024 –––––– Jonny McCormick
Irish Distillers has released the next innovation in its Method and Madness series with an expression finished in virgin Garryana oak barrels. Quercus garryana or Garry oak grows in the Pacific Northwest in a narrow band stretching from British Columbia to California. Whiskey lovers will be most familiar with this uncommon species of oak thanks to Westland Distillery in Seattle, who first released Westland Garryana American single malt in 2016 as an expression of Pacific Northwest terroir: their 8th edition was the No. 3 whisky of 2023 in the Whisky Advocate Top 20. Beyond Westland, few other companies have released Garryana oak-finished whiskeys until now.
Due to its high tannin levels, Garryana oak timber requires longer seasoning than Quercus alba, the main species of American white oak the whiskey industry uses for barrels. While Method and Madness Garryana Oak was finished exclusively in virgin Garryana oak barrels, Westland finishes its Garryana expression in virgin Garryana, sherry, bourbon, and wine casks. New Garryana oak can have a powerful flavor impact on whiskey; imparting flavors of dark sugar, clove, and hints of smoked oak.
Method and Madness single pot still whiskey costs $80 and was triple-distilled at the Micro Distillery at Midleton, the pilot facility located between the main Midleton production area and the Old Midleton distillery on the Midleton campus, where trial distillates can be run without disrupting the large scale production of spirit at the main Midleton Distillery needed for Jameson, Midleton Very Rare, Redbreast, Powers, and the Spot whiskey family.
While the earliest Method and Madness releases came from existing Irish whiskey stocks at Midleton, innovations in recent years, including last year’s Triple Distilled Rye and Malt, have originated from “The Micro,” as the distillers call it. Method and Madness Garryana Oak is bottled at 46% and its release marks another first for Irish whiskey. (4,500 bottles)
