Origin: Denmark
Type: Single Malt Danish Whisky
Strength: 50%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Sherry Oloroso
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Sall Whisky
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: sallwhisky.com
Christmas is just around the corner, and in Denmark, too, people are getting ready to celebrate with whisky.
I recently reviewed this small distillery in a village from which it takes its name, and if the debut in these pages was an independent bottling, this time I am tasting one produced directly by them.
500 bottles (of 50cl) of this single malt, the production details of which Sall makes no secret of: seven-day fermentation of organic barley (Vienna quality, low yield) harvested from their fields in 2020, followed by classic double distillation (by direct flame), with ageing in two ex-Sherry Oloroso quarter casks starting on 1 June 2021 for a total of three years.
Stekkjastaur (literally, he who terrorises the sheep), according to Icelandic tradition (the master distiller is from Iceland), is the first of the thirteen Santa Clauses that descend on the town one by one every day until 25 December, and he is also the first to leave on Christmas Day. His hobby? Torturing sheep by sucking their milk, despite the difficulties caused by his wooden legs.
Let’s get into this joyous Christmas spirit with a tasting!
Tasting Notes
The nose is a curious blend of warm, malty notes (plum cake with candied fruit, toasted bread), acidic and almost lactic notes (red fruit yoghurt, candied cherries and cherries in alcohol, currants, raspberries) and spices (lots of nutmeg with cinnamon and cloves), which together are quite reminiscent of Christmas. With time, it becomes rounder and warmer, with hints of tiramisu and toasted hazelnuts.
On the palate, the sherried side wins out, with plenty of red fruits, which also recede into jam, mulled wine, cocoa, coffee and spices (black pepper, ginger, nutmeg, a pinch of cinnamon). The malt is pushed in the background, and with time it becomes more noticeable, along with black liquorice, a hint of candied orange and nuts.
The finish is not very long, in which the tiramisu returns with liquorice, spices and nuts.
The positioning is absolutely right, the perfect Christmas dram, it’s a shame it lacks complexity on the palate as the nose and finish show great promise, and for a three year old that’s saying a lot.
Vote: 83/100