Nordic Whisky # 226 - Myken Hungarian Touch 2019

Myken Hungarian Touch 2019, 3 YO, 47 %

My heart always beats a little bit faster when I come across a new Nordic whisky, and especially a new Norwegian whisky. Not necessarily because it is a good whisky - in all honesty that isn’t always the case, you see. But I’m excited about the whisky boom we see in the Nordics these days, and I’m curious to see where this will bring us.

So with that said, let’s have a closer look at the Myken Hungarian Touch 2019. This arctic, Norwegian single was released on July 5 this year by Myken Destilleri. It is 3 years and 10 months old.

Matured in two 200 litre ex- bourbon barrels, and one ex-bourbon barrel where the spirit started out in four 50 litre virgin Hungarian oak casks for 10 months. All ex-bourbon barrels were from Maker's Mark.

This is an unpeated single malt, and the outturn was 1200 bottles (50 cl).

You can find all the nerdy details about fermentation time, cut points, cask numbers etc here.

You can still buy the Myken Hungarian Touch 2019 in Norway at NOK 799 (11075802).

Nose: Soft with a fair amount of vanilla ice cream and fresh oak. Hints of grape juice and orchard fruits. A faint saltiness in the back perhaps. Malt and mandarins with time, as well as herbs.

Taste: Medium bodied with a spicy punch. Light citrus notes, white pepper and camphor. The spirited Hungarian oak certainly has touched this one. 

Finish: Short to medium finish. Oaky sweetness mixed with soft spices. Peppery and green towards the end. Mint and cloves. Then a wave of mild bitterness.

Comment: A fine, young malt. I do prefer their Pineau Finish though.

Score 85/100

Sláinte!
- Thomas