The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Paer Johansson
Rating: B+
Smögen 8 Yer Old
(Credit: Smögen Distillery)
Does Sweden make whisky? Yes indeed, very much so. It all started with Mackmyra, founded back in 1998. Since then, many more distilleries have started and right now there are 13 active whisky distilleries in this small country.
One of the oldest is Smögen distillery located on the west coast one and a half hour from Gothenburg. This distillery opened in 2009 and has to date released 11 bottlings (as per their website). Smögen distillery aims to produce powerful, smoky, quality whisky in small batches.
The Whisky
This is the first age statement whisky from Smögen. It’s been matured for eight years in first fill Sauternes Barriques, is made of optic barley, heavily smoked and bottled at 57.8%.
The color is a tantalising golden yellow and the legs are tight and slow. On the nose there is a rich aroma of wine, vanilla, figs and raisins on a thick blanket of smoked bacon.
The taste is powerful with a velvety, oily texture. Figs and plums dances around the tongue accompanied by some Szechuan pepper in the back of the mouth. The aftertaste is fruity, vanilla-sweet and well-rounded albeit a bit short with just a lingering puff of pleasant pipe smoke.
This is a young and powerful whisky. The spirit and the Sauternes cask brings a sweet, fruity base, balanced well by the smoked barley.
The Price
Limited to 1628 bottles and sold for £102 in UK, this is a great addition to any whisky-lowers bar or brought as a special and unusual gift.
