Method and Madness Single Pot Still Finished in Chestnut Casks

Aroma: Apple, sherry, spices, orange peel, and some lovely fragrant dusty wood notes. Faint hints of licorice and mint are in the background. The nose is quite potent with a distinct alcohol prickle, even below 50% ABV. With time, the aroma settles and broadens, revealing a very nice buttery quality. This is a delight to smell. Palate: A very impactful initial taste – sweet, dense, dark fruits, with a sugary background that isn't simplistic; the sugars are brown sugar and coffee crystals with a malty, almost molasses-like quality. Rich, warm, and enveloping. Glace fruits, caramel, malt, and baked bananas with a touch of cinnamon sugar appear as it develops. The texture is mouth-coating and comforting, like a soft blanket. Finish: Medium/long. Spicy baked fruits. Adding water makes the aftertaste maltier and brings just the right amount of sweetness. I sampled the Method & Madness Single Malt a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. This pot still version is just as good, perhaps even superior. It's oily, rich, and nutty with layered complexity and an aura of completeness that is very satisfying. I could drink this regularly. Adding just a drop of water doesn't detract, but too much is not ideal. The aroma loses its prickle and melds together more, but most interestingly, a smoky note appears unexpectedly on the palate. I'm undecided whether I prefer this whiskey neat or slightly diluted (a mere half teaspoon is sufficient) – both are enjoyable. Unfortunately, it's out of stock in Australia currently, and we likely won't get another shipment. When available, it was AUS$125 (around US$70), which I consider a genuine bargain in this instance – I regret not purchasing a bottle when it was accessible. If you see this, get it – highly recommended. Tasted from a 30ml sampler – my thanks to a friend for the tasting dram. "Very Good": 86/100 (4 stars)

I seem to always be drawn to special cask whiskies. They call to me irresistibly. Initially, the aroma is sweet from sherry with a hint of fruit and a dull wood scent in the background. When tasted neat, there's a vapor and proof burn matching the ABV, but this fades after a few sips, leaving sweetness and quality wood. Over time, it develops into a very corn-like bourbon sweetness without vanilla, joined by stone fruits. A few ice chips significantly mellow the taste, keeping the sweetness prominent while subtle herbal and fruity notes emerge. After swallowing, the oily finish evolves through stages, leaving a pleasant coating on the tongue like a hard candy. This seems to be a signature of Chestnut cask finishing, with a subtle minty quality, more like mint than menthol. I truly enjoy this whiskey and will likely increase the rating after more time with it. There are three versions available locally, so they will undoubtedly join the collection. Retirement has opened my eyes to many things, and appreciating whiskey is among the finer aspects. It helps me count my many blessings. Edit 10/4/21: Increased the rating from 3.75 to 4.25 stars after extensive tasting with family members who enjoy bourbon/whiskey and after getting their feedback.

I've adjusted my tasting method to pour, wait briefly, smell, taste neat, and spit (if it's the first dram of the session to acclimate my palate to the alcohol), then wait again, smell, taste neat, and consume. I then add a few drops of water (depending on the whiskey) and repeat, consuming more, often with food. I've found this method truly extracts the most from what the whiskey offers. It paid off handsomely with this one. I am a HUGE admirer of the Midleton distillery. With the decline of Glendronach and, to some extent, Laphroaig, it has risen to the top of my preferred distillery list. The variety of offerings from the Spot, Redbreast, Powers, and now Method and Madness ranges (among others) are all distinct from one another – it's almost like several distilleries combined into one, which, given its history, is likely the case. Anyway, the aroma on this was beautiful: cacao (I paired it with leftover chocolate cake from my son's 5th birthday celebration), ginger, sherry, chestnut, caramel, and more. On the first couple of tastings, I was underwhelmed, but over time, it revealed spicy oaky caramel chestnut flavors. Now, this isn't a perfect whiskey by any means. Even with time and attention, it's young and slightly harsh on the aftertaste, but it possesses a unique quality... it's distinctive and interesting. I took a chance and bought a bottle, and while I don't regret it for the $70 USD price, I wouldn't buy another. Definitely worth trying, perhaps a purchase.

This is the last of the bottles I picked up on clearance, and as I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, all of them are worth it on clearance. I actually prefer the oaky, wood shavings character of the Single Grain to the vanilla apple sweetness of the Single Malt, but they’re both pretty good at half price. My feelings about the line are similar with this the Single Pot Still. In other words, if I had paid $74.99 for this, I’d be disappointed, but I didn’t. I paid $37.50, and this is fantastic at that price. Even at $50 this might be good, but it’s just a bit much for $75. They’re making intriguing whiskies that are just a little too expensive for my taste. As far as how it drinks, this seems to combine the best of the Single Grain and Single Malt. There’s a nice oak aroma with an underlying vanilla sweetness with a cinnamon coating. The palate is apple pie all the way with an apple sweetness and a doughy quality with clove coming through on a medium finish. I was saving this for last because this is supposed to be the best of three, but whereas I gave the Single Grain a higher rating for surprising me, this one was supposed to be the best of bunch and it lives up to that. I probably won’t pick up any of these again, but I have one bottle of Single Malt left and three of Single Grain because at half-off, who wouldn’t stock up on these?

This is a very pleasant whiskey. However, I tend to prefer a more traditional style of Irish whiskey. It's a little too sweet for my preference and doesn't have the depth of Redbreast 12 cask strength or even Writers Tears double oak. I'm giving it 4 stars because it is good and will likely appeal to the 'contemporary' drinker. But once this bottle is finished, I doubt I'll purchase another, though that's just my personal opinion. It's a superb whiskey, just too sweet for me. EDIT: After several months. Reducing the rating to 3. It hasn't grown on me. Far too sweet. Overpoweringly sweet. SECOND EDIT... Several months have passed since my last revision, and things have changed. With time, opened bottles, and evolving palates, my perspective has shifted. I have since finished this bottle and bought another. It now presents as much more complex and less sweet. This truly showcases the beauty of whiskey and the wisdom of not discarding a bottle prematurely. I've opened my second bottle and will allow it to rest capped on my shelf for a few months.... I am now reverting my rating back to the original 4.

Aroma: banana candy Initial taste: sweet, caramel, bananas foster Second taste: a strong wave of smokiness and chestnut, which quickly vanished (and that smoky sensation didn't reappear on subsequent sips). From the third sip onwards: sweet and smooth with a wonderful mouthfeel and a woody finish. Overall, I really enjoy this. I'm uncertain if it fully justifies the price point ($74 in Pennsylvania), but I would certainly drink it again. Edit: adding impressions from later tastings over 2 months. This is truly an excellent pour. I've enjoyed it more with each tasting. It's smooth, oily, and rich. All the finishing contributes significant character that evolves positively over time.