On Saturday, October 19, 2013 6:41:22 PM UTC+1, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Its not VERY toxic but it causes death because it tastes nice.

I thought a very small glass or so would see you out, but have never felt the urge to try it.

Methanol would probably blind you before it killed you.
I think the digestion process turns it into formic acid which attackes the optic nerves. I'm not a chemist and don't claim any knowledge of the chemistry.

I think it's also why poor quality whiskey was called red eye. Distillation at the rcorrectly measured temperatures will separate the ethanol and methanol.

Apple jack used to be made in the US by freezing barrels of cider outdoors in winter.
The ice was removed and the liquid remaining contained most of the alcohol.
They stopped using that method because it concentrated both the ethanol and methanol.

You still see 'freeze distillation' recommended on the interent for making home brew whisky.