Food & Drink

Review: Tasting Scandinavian Whiskies from The Whisky Exchange

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Among the best whisky retailers on this planet is The Whisky Change — and one of many retailer’s greatest product traces are its “Good Measure” sampler units, which include quite a few 30ml bottles of whiskies that you’ll probably have a tough time discovering in any format, wherever. Lately the corporate despatched me a set from this line of 5 Scandinavian whiskies, together with choices from Mackmyra, Bivrost, and Stauning. Whereas this particular set isn’t accessible any extra, a lot of the whiskies included inside it are. You’ll discover them on the under hyperlink.

Costs listed are for 700ml bottles the place accessible.

Mackmyra Bjorksav Single Malt Whisky (Sweden) – “Impressed by the arrival of spring after an extended winter, Mackmyra Björksav – which means birch sap – has been matured in casks that beforehand held Swedish birch sap wine.” Actually fascinating stuff. Very fruity on nostril and palate, with notes of vanilla, cherry pits, pine needles, and a rising maple syrup word that basically fills the glass in time. (I’ve by no means had birch sap wine, so maybe maple’s within the ballpark there.) Candy on the palate with edges of stone fruit, that maple wandering towards molasses and coconut notes because the end builds. Barely chocolaty on the fade-out, with a touch of pepper. That is a kind of samples the place 30ml simply isn’t sufficient to essentially dig in and do it justice. 92.2 proof. A- / £60

Mackmyra Efva Single Malt Whiskey (Sweden) – “A collaboration between Swedish distillery Mackmyra and jewellery designer Efva Attling, this whisky has been aged in a collection of oloroso sherry, bourbon and American oak casks, a few of which beforehand held Swedish birch sap wine.” So, a extra complicated model of Bjorksav, maybe? This whisky truly presents itself extra in keeping with a single malt Scotch, the sherry barrel providing a contact of orange to a nostril that’s malty and wealthy with toasted cereal grains. Some baking spice and a contact of pepper are each additionally evident. The palate finds only a trace of the sweetness that’s discovered within the Bjorksav version, with extra of an natural kick rising on the end. Some hints of cinnamon apple and birch bark on the end. 92.6 proof. B+ / £104

Bivrost Muspelheim Single Malt Whiskey (Norway) – “Handcrafted below the glow of the Northern Lights, on the foot of the majestic Lyngen Alps, at 69 °N. Comprised of peated barley, fermented with glacial meltwater and distilled in our hi-tech nonetheless. Matured in bourbon and ex-Islay casks.” Reasonably peaty, with an uncommon burst of citrus on the nostril, plus loads of saline. Sharp and peppery and somewhat unusual, however precisely why is difficult to put with a small pattern. The palate is smokier than the nostril would recommend, although it really works nicely with its orangey kick. There’s one thing right here that’s completely different from conventional peated whiskey, although, evoking burning evergreen needles and charcoal briquettes. Once more, a whiskey that calls for extra time than 30ml can present. 92 proof. B+ / $NA

Stauning Flooring Malted Rye Whiskey (Denmark) – “A wealthy Danish rye whiskey from Stauning, made with a mix of native rye and barley, and matured in virgin American oak barrels.” A great deal of caramel on the nostril, with a barely hoppy character that gives a definite spiciness reminscent of an American craft rye. Extra of these taste parts pop on the palate, and whereas a surfeit of wooden — plus a load of grainy malt — give the whiskey a light greenness, its end finds room sufficient for some silky milk chocolate to even issues out. 96 proof. B+ / £60

Stauning Flooring Malted Rye Whiskey – Peated (Denmark) – Presumably the identical whisky because the above, “made with barley malted utilizing native peat and heather, making a floral, smoky character.” Undoubtedly probably the most intensely peated whisky on this lineup, this comes throughout like one thing straight out of Islay, not like the opposite whiskies within the package. Smoky and a bit beefy on nostril and palate, the smoldering character rumbles its option to the end like a freight practice, for higher or for worse, pushing apart fleeting notes of saline and malted milk balls. Blunt however participating. 96 proof. B+ / £80

$NA for the tasting package / thewhiskyexchange.com

Mackmyra Bjorksav Single Malt Whisky

£60

Ranking


9.0/10

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