The Woodpecker & The Leprechaun Chequertree Wood Finish (50cl, 57.3%)

This is an Irish single malt from The Spirits Alchemist, finished in chequertree wood. It was triple distilled at the Great Northern Distillery in May 2017 and spent five years in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel. In February 2023 it moved into a 50-litre chequertree cask for twelve months. It is part of The Woodpecker & The Leprechaun, a five-part series created by Sebastian Büssing with Irish whiskey specialist Neil Saad. The same base whiskey was finished in apple, pear, cherry, mulberry and chequertree wood. This one was bottled in February 2024 at six years and nine months old, at a natural cask strength of 57.3%, with 91 bottles of 50cl. It is not chill-filtered or coloured. The nose offers fresh green hazelnuts, grass, herbs and honeydew melon. On the palate come sweet fruit, honey, vanilla custard and shortbread. The finish is medium, creamy and sweet.