Myken Hellstrøm á la Hellstrøm
Myken Hellstrøm á la Hellstrøm, 5 YO, 47 %
Four different casks have contributed to the vatting for this single malt release from Norwegian distillery Myken. The details of the four casks are as follows:
Cask 16/024: ex-Pineau des Charentes (350L). Approximately 100L of this cask used in this vatting. Unpeated whisky, ca. 7.5 YO. German malted barley.
Cask 16/044: ex-bourbon (200L). All used in this vatting. Peated whisky, 35 ppm, ca. 7 YO. Belgian malted barley.
Casks 18/041 and 18/042: ex-bourbon (200L). All used in this vatting. Peated whisky, 35 ppm. Just over 5 YO. Belgian malted barley.
The calculated peat level is 30 ppm, so heavily peated but not quite “Islay level”.
The Myken Hellstrøm á la Hellstrøm is available in Norway at NOK 960 (16945702), and limited to 1600 bottles (0.5 l). If it sells out they have threatened to release a follow-up.
Nose: Begins dark and enigmatic, unfolding with rich notes of coffee and chocolate, dusted with a blend of spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, alongside a dusty, earthy scent. As it develops, toasted oak, soot, and the ambiance of a driftwood bonfire on a distant beach come to the fore, with subtle hints of orchard fruits lingering in the backdrop.
Taste: The palate is met with a full-bodied, somewhat dry initial impression, quickly giving way to dark chocolate and playful pepper nuances. This is followed by a compelling surge of deep sweetness and rich fruitiness, featuring ripe orchard fruits, while peat manifests as toasted oak and ginger-spiced soot.
Finish: The finish is medium-long, continuing with more chocolate, a gentle spiciness, and an increased sweetness of fruit. It concludes with the indulgence of chocolate mousse and the refreshing twist of coffee sorbet.
Comment: Sooty chocolate dreams.
Score 87/100
This is Nordic whisky review #388 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.
Sláinte!
-Thomas
