Final 12 months Berry Bros. & Rudd launched the primary batch of a sequence known as Nordic Casks. It brings collectively whisky from an rising area, sourcing casks from distilleries accross Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. As you understand this can be a very dynamic, thriving whisky scene.
Not too long ago Nordic Casks #2 noticed the sunshine. It comprises three single malts, one single rye whisky and one blended malt.
The primary single malt comes from Thy distillery, Denmark (pronounced tsu, roughly). It’s a cask of their Bøg spirit, smoked with beechwood. On this case we’re speaking about two quarter casks from completely different vintages, vatted collectively.
Thy 2017 + 2019 (57,6%, Berry Bros. & Rudd 2022, quarter casks #175 + 258, 235 btl.)
Nostril: wooden range aromas in winter, with a heat trace of bacon and barley sweetness. Crusts of vanilla pastry. Smooth toffee notes. There’s a brilliant trace of citrus peels within the background. Whiffs of cigar containers too. After some time smoked kippers seem.
Mouth: brighter now, with candy lemons and white pepper, in addition to some aniseed and spicy bread. Nonetheless loads of ashy smoke operating by. Some toasted oak within the again. Then flippantly coppery notes as effectively, maybe as a consequence of its younger age.
End: could possibly be longer however properly warming, with hints of espresso, barbecue ashes and cinnamon.
The elegant, savoury beech smoke is simply nice. Add some natural notes (akin to gin botanicals at instances) and you have already got a typical Nordic dram. Good whisky with its personal model. Obtainable from Abbey Whisky.
Smögen 2012 (60%, Berry Bros. & Rudd 2022, Oloroso hogshead #34, 284 btl.)
Nostril: a deeply sooty smoky nostril. These are intertwined by humorous hints of Jamaican rum (overripe bananas with diesel) and cured limes. Hints of camphor and dirt. Later I get a variety of harbour aromas, be it seaweed, moist wooden or tarry ropes. Dried herbs and leathery notes too. The Nordic Islay character.
Mouth: wealthy wooden smoke with tarry notes, black pepper and a pleasant sherry affect. Toffee and caramelized nuts, with milk chocolate. Black olives, heavy liquorice and salty notes too. Over time a pleasant farminess builds within the background.
End: lengthy, with extra liquorice, black olives and this vaguely candy farmy be aware beneath.
Fairly spectacular, mixing Nordic character with Islay parts (Satoisha?) and this funky Jamaican aspect. I have to strive extra Smögen. That goes for you too. By the way in which, somewhat little bit of this cask additionally went into the Vindöga mix (see under). Obtainable from Abbey Whisky. Rating: 90/100
Stauning 2017 Rye Whisky (58,9%, Berry Bros. & Rudd 2022, Moscatel hogshead #6493, 254 btl.)
Nostril: apricots and apricot jam to the left, rye bread to the fitting. Hints of baking spice, mint and rosemary. Leathery notes. A lot of different herbs as effectively. A touch of bubblegum within the background, however that is actually concerning the spice.
Mouth: very natural now. The rye comes out, alongside white pepper, nutmeg and loads of spicy / natural notes. Then caraway seeds and aniseed. Maybe extra herbs than spices in any case. Nearly medicinal. The Moscatel isn’t very in-your-face but it surely brings the required sweetness to stability the spice.
End: lengthy, somewhat too sizzling maybe, with earthy notes.
I’m not the largest fan of rye whisky, however that is recent and correct, with numerous herbs and a pleasant splash of Moscatel sweetness. Obtainable from Abbey Whisky. Rating: 83/100
Teerenpeli 2013 (59,9%, Berry Bros. & Rudd 2022, Oloroso hogshead #13B, 217 btl.)
Nostril: trendy sherry, with purple sweet apples, molasses, fig jam and dates. Additionally acacia honey and whiffs of pine needles. Then rising butter caramel, mocha sweet and gingerbread. Delicate oak shavings as effectively.
Mouth: thick and candy, like hitting a wall of sherry. Very profitable although, with good flavours of strawberry jam and cassis lemonade, caramelized almonds and raspberry sweet. Nonetheless a buttery, fatty aspect. Some mild spicy notes, staying at a distance, leaving the fruity notes within the highlight.
End: very lengthy, barely darker with chocolate notes, cinnamon and liquorice whereas nonetheless having blackberries and cassis.
A beautiful drop, very richly sherried with a pleasant fruitiness to carry it. Concentrated, properly vibrant and straightforward to suggest to sherryheads. My experiences with this distillery are rapidly getting higher, surpassing the sherry cask for Kirsch. Obtainable from Abbey Whisky. Rating: 89/100
Final however not least, the primary Nordic blended malt known as Vindöga #1. Vindöga means window so it’s a window onto Nordic whisky.
It comprises whisky from six distilleries: Fary Lochan (Denmark), Teerenpeli (Finland), Smögen and Excessive Coast (Sweden) together with Mosgaard (Denmark) and Myken (Norway). All the parts have been matured in sherry casks. The recipe was created by Thomas Øhrbom from Whisky Saga.
Vindöga (59%, Berry Bros. & Rudd 2022, blended Nordic malt, sherry cask, 143 btl.)
Nostril: a barely rubbery trace at first. Then cedar cigar containers, teak oil and tobacco. Inexperienced herbs, delicate peat and polished leather-based. Hints of maple syrup, black cherries, fatty meat, natural extracts and chocolate within the background. An incredible autumnal, pretty dry nostril.
Mouth: the wooden is taking middle stage at first, with sandalwood and cedar alongside darkish caramelized notes and a touch of varnish. Candy herbs, toffee and chocolate. Later dried fruits flavours set in, however with out the sweetness. Liquorice and touches of smoky ash.
End: dryness units in now, with natural tea, liquorice and clove. Nonetheless this encompassing woody heat.
Ingvar Ronde known as this a consolation whisky just like consolation meals. Properly mentioned. Fairly a dry whisky however a wonderful ensemble. This is a wonderful selection for wintertime, subsequent to a comfortable hearth. Obtainable from Abbey Whisky. Rating: 88/100
