Irish Distillers releases micro distilled gin

Irish Distillers has unveiled Method and Madness Irish Micro Distilled Gin, the first release from its micro distillery at Midleton, inspired by the gin recipes of 18th century Cork and made with botanicals including black lemon and Irish gorse flower.

The micro gin is the result of a reinterpretation of the historic gin recipes made in Cork in 1798, found in a notebook kept in the Midleton Distillery archive written by a rectifier in Cork called William Coldwell. In it, he details the recipes, botanicals and methods that also informed the creation of Irish Distillers’ Cork Crimson Gin in 2005, which also provided the primary inspiration for Method and Madness.

Made with 16 botanicals led by black lemon and Irish gorse flower, the 43% abv gin was made in ‘Mickey’s Belly’, Ireland’s oldest gin still first commissioned in 1958 at the Micro Distillery, Midleton. The still is named after Michael Hurley, a Distiller at Midleton Distillery for 45 years. 

“The release of our Method and Madness gin represents the next chapter in the story of us re-writing what a modern Irish spirits company can be,” said master distiller, Brian Nation.

“Through our work with the Apprentices at the Micro Distillery, Midleton, we continue to innovate and experiment with different grains, distillation methods and spirit types and look forward to sharing our creations with the world in the coming years.”

According to Nation, the gin offers notes of lemon balm and shredded ginger on the nose, spicy pine and notes of earthy woodland frost balanced with a burst of citrus on the palate, and a clean and long finish with a lingering notes of rooted orange citrus and roasted spice.

“At the very core of Method and Madness is a commitment to push the boundaries of what we can achieve in Midleton Distillery, and I believe that taking a confident leap into the modern premium gin category is the very definition of this mindset,” added Brendan Buckley, innovation and specialty brands director at Irish Distillers.

The gin will be available in Ireland and Global Travel Retail from March 2019 at the RRP of €50 per 70cl bottle, ahead of a wider release in global markets from July.