The Woodpecker & The Leprechaun Mulberrytree Wood Finish Whiskey 0.5 l

Volume: 0.5 litres | Alcohol content: 57.1% | Chill filtration: No

Special Features:

This single-cask release explores the influence of mulberry wood alongside four other wood types in the first series from The Woodpecker & The Leprechaun. The triple-distilled Irish single malt from Great Northern Distillery was distilled in May 2017 and initially matured for five years in a first-fill ex-bourbon cask. In February 2023, the base whiskey was divided between five specially made casks, each holding 50 litres. Alongside mulberry, the series used apple, pear, cherry and wild service tree wood. This allows the effects of the different woods on the same base whiskey to be compared.

After twelve months in the mulberry wood cask, the whiskey was bottled in February 2024 at a total age of 6 years and 9 months. The release comprises 90 bottles of 0.5 litres at a natural cask strength of 57.1%. The whiskey has no added colouring and is not chill-filtered. Its character combines nut, tobacco and wood notes with vanilla and chocolate.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals walnut shell, tobacco and milk chocolate. The woody notes recall an old cupboard and sauna wood.
• Palate: On the palate, hints of vanilla and chocolate pudding combine with nuts, fresh tobacco and chocolate.
• Finish: The finish feels dry and sweet, with a gentle nutty aftertaste.

Distillery/Bottler:

Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk, County Louth, has been operating since 2015. The independent distillery uses pot stills and column stills to produce various whiskey types for brand owners and bottling partners. Its services include contract distillation, whiskey maturation and blending. The single malt in this release was triple-distilled there.

The Woodpecker & The Leprechaun is the project of independent bottler Sebastian Büssing and The Spirits Alchemist. It grew out of his meeting with Irish whiskey expert Neil Saad in winter 2022. Saad’s knowledge and contacts in Ireland complemented Büssing’s experience with unusual cask maturation. Their first joint series examines how five different wood types change a single malt previously matured in an ex-bourbon cask.

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