Nordic Whisky #160 - Eiktyrne Småfat Cognacfat nr. 3002
Eiktyrne Småfat Cognacfat nr. 3002, 4 YO, 54,9 %
Nordic Whisky #160 - Eiktyrne Småfat Cognacfat nr. 3002
OK, so you have tried single cask whiskies. Very limited number of bottles, right? We're typically talking anywhere from 200 to 500 bottles. It's fun, it's exclusive, and the whisky can even be unique and give you a new perspective on the whisky from that particular distillery.
Then you have the odd very old single cask, or partial cask, single cask with a leak or small cask. That gives an even lower number of bottles, right? You have probably seen the odd release like this with less than 100 bottles, perhaps as low as 50-60 bottles.
But have you ever seen a full single cask release with a total outturn of 15 (fifteen!) bottles? I am pretty sure that is a very rare occurrence. Anywho, that is what we have on the test bench today.
The Eiktyrne Småfat Cognacfat nr. 3002 from Norwegian distillery Det Norske Brenneri was distilled on 2012-07-02. It was initially matured in an ex-sherry cask for almost four years, then transferred to a 10 litre (!) cognac cask on 2016-03-29. The whisky was bottled on 2016-10-28, with a total outturn of 15 bottles...
Needless to say, perhaps, but this whisky was never officially released. With this few bottles they decided to keep this for special tastings and to present something unique at Norwegian whisky festivals.
Nose: Sweet, red berries and grape juice. Dirt track through an Autumn wood, wet leaves and the smell of the air just as a heavy rainfall is about to start. Deep cinnamon notes - think raw cinnamon sticks. Hints of licorice. Leave it in the glass and it will turn absolutely divine. The comforting warmth of the cinnamon stick bonfire is soo good.
Taste: Rich and full-bodied and somehow both oily and tending towards dry at the same time. The cinnamon sticks are still with us. White pepper, ginger, licorice and just a little more than just a touch of chili. Caramel and vanilla.
Finish: Medium finish. Chili, milk chocolate. Soothing green notes as well now - mint, grass and tomato plant. Golden syrup and soft oakiness.
Comments: A super fun dram that is bordering on getting too intense. A few more weeks on that tiny cognac cask and I would probably not have been this happy with it. As it is it adds to the recent streak of very fine efforts from Det Norske Brenneri, and shows that Norway is becoming a force to reckon with on the Nordic whisky scene.
Score (88/100)
Sláinte! - Thomas
