Tag: Swedish

Mackmyra Svensk Rök

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Mackmyra Svensk Rök

Distillery: Mackmyra
Country: Sweden
Age: No age statement
abv: 46.1%

Part of Mackmyra’s core range, Svensk Rök translates as Swedish smoke. And that’s about all the introduction this whisky needs, for indeed it’s smoky and it’s Swedish. So Swedish in fact that all of the ingredients were locally sourced, and part of the spirit aged in Swedish oak. And if you thought this whisky couldn’t get any more Swedish, think again! True to local tradition, the barley for Svensk Rök was smoked over a fire of juniper twigs. This is a common way of preserving food in Sweden, and it’s certainly helped to produce a flavour profile not found anywhere else in the world. Some decidedly unSwedish ex-Oloroso sherry casks were also added to the mix, so we’re in for a treat!

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Mackmyra Brukswhisky

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Mackmyra Brukswhisky

Distillery: Mackmyra
Country: Sweden
Age: No age statement
abv: 41.4%

Launched in 2010, Brukswhisky has formed part of Mackmyra’s core range ever since. The spirit is aged primarily in ex-bourbon casks, but sherry butts and Swedish oak are also used, making for quite an attractive mix. The presentation is equally striking, being distinctly different from the rest of Mackmyra’s lineup. Featuring assorted tools, distilling equipment and raw materials, the packaging marries Mackmyra’s premium style with a more industrious image. Indeed, Brukswhisky’s product page shows a scene taken straight from the Industrial Revolution, with Mackmyra’s hypermodern Gravity Distillery tucked into one corner. Let’s see if all this hard work paid off.

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Mackmyra Grönt Te

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Mackmyra Grönt Te

Distillery: Mackmyra
Country: Sweden
Age: No age statement
abv: 46.1%

Mackmyra rightly call themselves Explorers in Whisky. For well over a decade now, they’ve been presenting us with weird and wonderful creations that other whisky makers wouldn’t even dare to dream up. At which other distillery will you find casks that previously held lingonberry wine, birch sap or glühwein? Mackmyra’s latest creation Grönt Te (Swedish for green tea) goes one step further though. For while the products mentioned above generally age in oak, tea does not. Instead, master blender Angela d’Orazio decided to season casks with a blend of Oloroso sherry and Japanese tea leaves. This mixture was then poured out, before finishing the whisky in these casks.

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Mackmyra Skördetid

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Mackmyra Skördetid ReviewDistillery: Mackmyra
Country: Sweden
Age: No age statement
abv: 46.1%

The latest addition to Mackmyra’s Seasons range, Skördetid is Swedish for harvest time. There’s no denying that Mackmyra is a stylish company, and Skördetid could well be the most classy whisky the Swedish distillers have ever produced. This is in no small part due to a collaboration with Italian wine maker Masi, who provided the Amarone casks in which much of Skördetid spent its final 6 months. While this finish manifests itself clearly through sweet, nutty flavours, we should be careful not to give the Amarone casks all the credit. Because lest we forget, there’s also some first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez at work in this carefully crafted vatting. Clearly then, Skördetid is Mackmyra at its fruitiest. The packaging too has been imbued with a splash of Amarone, with the sleek Mackmyra design overlaid with burgundy colours. Skördetid is a delightful dram that’s well worth a try!

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Mackmyra Vinterrök

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Mackmyra Vinterrök Review 01Distillery: Mackmyra
Country: Sweden
Age: No age statement
abv: 46.1%

Of all the intriguing whiskies in Mackmyra’s Seasons range, Vinterrök is one that I’ve been wanting to try for a while. Sure, other smoky Mackmyras do exist, but a finish in strong ale casks makes Vinterrök sound like a particularly sumptuous affair. Mackmyra ages its spirit in Swedish oak, producing a rougher, more robust flavour palette that in my opinion lends itself quite well to a smoky whisky.

Last year I tried Vinterrök’s seasonal sibling Vinterdröm, which is a good whisky that nonetheless falls short of excellence. Vinterrök is another matter. Sweet without being fruity, this dram is a bold, flavourful expression that satisfies the senses yet leaves you wanting more. In Mackmyra’s usual classy packaging, Vinterrök would make a nice gift too. Or you can be sensible and decide to keep it all for yourself, this is tasty stuff!

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Mackmyra Vinterdröm

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Mackmyra Vinterdröm ReviewDistillery: Mackmyra
Country: Sweden
Age: No age statement
abv: 46.1%

Sweden is perhaps not a country famous for distilling whisky, but since 1999, Mackmyra distillery has been producing a wide variety of excellent drams. Such has been the quality and acclaim of Mackmyra’s whiskies, that high demand pushed them to open a second distillery in 2011. This is the Gravity distillery, and in true Swedish fashion, its production is very environmentally friendly. 35 metres high and relying on the forces of gravity for many of its processes, it manages to save up to 45% on energy use compared to the first distillery. After distillation, the whisky is stored 50 metres below ground in an abandoned coal mine for maturation. The cask of choice for this is often Swedish, rather than American oak. Mackmyra claims this wood type gives the whisky a rougher, harsher flavour, which better represents the Swedish climate.

Vinterdröm is Mackmyra’s latest release in the limited edition ‘Seasons’ range. All of the whiskies from this range have received an unusual finish, and Vinterdröm is no different. Apart from Swedish and American oak, the whisky has aged in casks that previously held rum from Barbados and Jamaica, belonging to the famous rum producer Plantation. The result is a seasoned, sweet whisky with plenty of Caribbean swing in it.  With its sleek packaging featuring swanky palm trees, this whisky also just looks very cool. Let’s hope it tastes the same!

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