Myken Sabotør #2 Gunnerside
Myken Sabotør #2 Gunnerside, 5 YO, 47 %
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Matured in ex-bourbon casks - three times! Initially for two years in 200 litre ex-bourbon casks, then for another two years in 1st fill ex-bourbon casks, before it received a final round of maturation in 2nd fill 40 litre ex-bourbon casks.
This is the second Saboteur release from Myken. The first release was limited to just about 80 bottles, making it pretty hard to get. This time around they have upped the batch size to around 700 bottles.
The theme of the series is major operations carried out by the Norwegian resistance during World War II. This second release focuses on the sabotage of the hydro-electric power plant at Vemork, outside Rjukan, in nazi-occupied Norway. The plant produced heavy water (deuterium oxide, 2H2O, D2O). In February 1943, Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents successfully completed the 'Gunnerside' operation , where six Norwegian agents parachuted into the area, to join forces with the four agents from previous operation from 'Grouse'. They attacked the Rjukan electrolysis plant on the night of 28 February 1943,. The “pay off” was the loss of 500 kg of heavy water and destruction of the heavy-water section of the Vemork power plant. A major blow to the nazis.
To further celebrate this important war time event, this whisky release contains actual heavy water. In fact 1 litre of heavy water was used in the dilution from cask strength to the 47 % ABV in the bottle. It is important to note here that heavy water is completely safe to drink. Regular water typically contains a small element of heavy water as well. Also it isn’t all that heavy, just about 10 % heavier than regular water.
The Myken Sabotør #2 Gunnerside goes on sale in Norway on Wednesday March 1.
Nose: Heavy .. nah, kidding. It has a lovely nose clearly showing off its maturation in ex-bourbon. There’s a lot of vanilla, but also notes of cinnamon, and assorted tropical fruits. Honey dew melon, coconut milk and almond milk. Unsalted peanuts. Creamy vanilla.
Taste: Medium to full bodied. Fizzy and peppery as well as fruity on the palate. More melon, now joined by notes of ripe apple and pear sprinkled with simple syrup and powdered sugar. There’s hints of citrus here as well.
Finish: Medium long finish. Warm, fizzy, peppery and sweetly fruity.
Comment: Listen all y’all, it’s a sabotage!
Score 86/100
This is Nordic whisky review #346 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.
Sláinte!
-Thomas
