Origin: Sweden
Typer: Single Malt Swedish Whisky
Strength: 60%ABV
Ageing casks: Virgin oak
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Smögen Whisky AB
Average price: € 140.00
Official website: smogenwhisky.se
Vote: 87/100
Here is one of several single casks made by the Swedish mini-distillery, for the history of which I refer you to the previous article at the bottom.
Matured again in virgin Swedish oak for nine years, not exactly an insignificant amount of time for such a cask, a puncheon that produced 911 bottles (of 50cl) at cask (high) strength in March 2021.
Peat level on paper is very high, 96.9ppm, we’ll have to see how far it got into the bottle… and that’s what I’m here for.
Tasting notes
And on the nose, the smoky side is expressed in the vegetal tones, where juniper scatters on the grill along with hay, ginseng, dried leaves and a handful of herbs (oregano and rosemary), with just a hint of meaty note in the background (see what happens when you don’t wash the barbecue properly?). Tangerines, caramelised apple, nuts (brazil nut, pine nuts), a touch of vanilla and a very slight sour note in the background complete the picture. Along the length, the smoke acquires more substance, revealing a sulphurous and saline vein.
On the palate, the initial alcoholic bang is rather violent, but it soon finds the balance making itself (almost) forgotten, leaving room for paprika and black pepper that soar over a nice full body, with the vegetable and saline smoke that becomes almost chewy. Preponderance of citrus fruits (mandarin, lemon) with a slight sweetness in the background that plays on a carpet of liquorice and aniseed.
Medium-long, saline finish of citrus, ash, dried fruit, wood.
It’s difficult to give an opinion on a distillery having tasted just two of their expressions, but a common thread, a personality already emerges, expressing a different peated profile from the overused Scottish one in some respects. There is substance and body, here still not fully expressed, but promising great things perhaps in different profiles that I hope to try.
In any case, promoted, with some reserve.