Midleton Distillery Releases Garyanna Oak Finished Whiskey

Midleton Distillery launched the world's first Irish whiskey aged in Garryana Oak.

Method and Madness, a whiskey brand from Midleton Distillery, released a single pot still whiskey that was finished in Garryana Oak from the Pacific Northwestern region of the U.S. on Friday. This Irish whiskey is the first and only of its kind.

The team at Midleton's experimental micro-distillery said they chose to finish the batch of triple-distilled whiskey in virgin Garryana Oak casks because the wood's unique density adds a greater depth of character and spice. Distillers in the Pacific Northwest, such as Seattle's Westland Distillery have experimented with Garryana Oak before and for a link to our review of their 2016 expression, click here.

"Method and Madness Garryana Oak is an expression aligned with the brand's commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of Irish whiskey. The microdistillery has always been about experimentation and the use of Garryana oak is just the latest example of our innovative spirit and dedication to producing unique and exceptional whiskeys," said Finbarr Curran, the maturation lead at Midleton Distillery according to The Spirits Business.

Garryana Oak, scientifically known as Quercus Garryana, is only one of four deciduous oak varieties native to the West Coast. Deciduous plants are those that lose all of their leaves for part of the year. According to the Oregon Wood Innovation Center at Oregon State University, Garryana Oak is prized for its toughness.

The Irish Whiskey has a mashbill of both unmalted and malted barley that was triple distilled prior to maturing in ex-bourbon and American oak casks. The whiskey debuted Friday in Ireland and is planned to make its way to the U.S. near the end of 2023.

Nose: Smoked applewood, treacle, golden raisins.

Taste: Black pepper, coffee cake, toasted wood.

Finish: Clove spice, malted barley, coffee grounds.

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Cynthia Mersten is a writer/editor for Whiskey Raiders and has worked in the Beverage Industry for eight years. She started her career in wine and spirits distribution and sold brands like Four Roses, High West and Compass Box to a variety of bars and restaurants in the city she calls home: Los Angeles. Cynthia is a lover of all things related to wine, spirits and story and holds a BA from UCLA's School of Theatre, Film and Television. Besides writing, her favorite pastimes are photography and watching movies with her husband.