Eiktyrne Kveik og Malt 12 måneder

Eiktyrne Kveik og Malt 12 måneder, 1 YO, 49.2 %

This is release number two in a series of four, which will lead up to a 3 YO single malt, made from Norwegian malted barley and using kveik for fermentation. Kveik is a Norwegian “controlled wild yeast” used by homebrewers hundreds of years on the Norwegian west coast.

Last year we saw the release of the unaged Eiktyrne Kveik og Malt (see review). Now we get the 1 YO (or 12 måneder) old version.

This release is limited to 98 bottles (50 cl). It has been matured in 7x 40 litres fresh ex-Oloroso casks (rebuilt/made from old oak and seasoned again). Only 50 litres from the vatting of those 7 casks are used for this bottling. The remains of the vatting was blended with the contents of 2x 225 litre fresh Sauternes casks, and put back into the 7x 40 litre (now 2nd fill) ex-Ooloroso casks and the 2x 225 litre ex-Sauternes casks. You’ve guessed it; that will be the basis for next years two year old installment of this series.

The malt used is a Norwegian floor malted barley, delivered from Norsk Malt at Stor-Gaalaas Gård at Furnes (Central-East of Norway). The mash is made by a brewery named Eik & Tid (“Oak & Time”). They are the kveik experts.

The Eiktyrne Kveik og Malt 12 måneder goes on sale in Norway tomorrow, at NOK 639 (13560302).

Nose: Sugary sweet sherry notes. Hints of something sour or bitter - is this the kveik influence - I believe it is. Then warm and inviting sweetness. Almost a little bourbon like on the nose. Eucalyptus in the background.

Taste: Full bodied. Again rather sweet sherry notes. Creamy vanilla, earthy cinnamon, and mint. Malty with tropical fruits in the background.

Finish: Medium long finish. Hints of oakiness now, as well as cut grass. Not a whole lot of development.

Comment: Love this whole experimental series. I was a little surprised that Jon Bertelsen (the master distiller at Det Norske Brenneri) chose to use small sherry casks that are this active. To me they seem to mask some of the influences of the malt and the kveik that Jon really wanted to showcase. I am sure he has a plan, so we shall just have to wait and see what happens next year!

Score 84/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

This is Nordic whisky review #285 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.