Nordic Whisky #273 - Bländande Svensk Blended Malt Whisky

Bländande Svensk Blended Malt Whisky, 8 YO, 55.5 %

The is the first ever Swedish (or indeed Nordic) blended malt, as far as I know. It is a collaboration between Spirit of Hven and Smögen, and it was released for sale on 2020-11-24. The name “Bländande” means blinding, but it also sounds like “blended”, so it is a name that works well, I think.

Here is the official product description:

“Bländande is composed of whisky from eight nine casks; four virgin Chinkapin barrels from Spirit of Hven and four 1st fill Bourbon barrels and a 1st fill Sherry hogshead from Smögen, all containing whisky made using heavily peated malt.”

The whisky was left to marry for a month before it was bottled.

Will be launched for sale in Norway on May 7 this year, at NOK 1990 (12818502). It is also available, of course, in Sweden at SEK 1495 (40860).

Nose: Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory on fire in a pine wood forest! Gingerbread men are trying to put out the fire with simple syrup and icing sugar, but they are too close to the fire and start to melt! Fluffy cotton candy clouds float over head. A company of Bertie Bassett clones (from Bassett’s Liquorice Allsorts) run up with a massive hose, trying to douse the fire with sticky goodness from the nearby caramel lake.

Taste: Rich, full bodied and firing on all cylinders. The initial attack is highly peated and smoky indeed. It i also somewhat spicy. Cracked black pepper, hot ashes, chilli soot and ginger flavoured honey. Assorted fruits in the background.

Finish: Medium to long finish. Lots of honey still. The pine wood forest is back - the green notes I often associate with Smögen are definitely here on the finish. Complex and well balanced. Fruity and refined.

Comment: Uniquely refined and complex for an 8 YO blended malt. This is a product that not only does Smögen and Spirit of Hven proud, but also the whole Swedish and Nordic whisky scene! Congrats Pär and Henric! Hurrah!

Score 89/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas