Nordic Whisky #54 - Smögen Jubilee

Smögen Jubilee, 3 YO, 60 %

Smögen Jubilee

Time really does fly. It is now 5 years since Smögen Distillery started production, on the west coast of Sweden. This coming Saturday, August 29, there will be a big birthday celebration. Pär Caldenby, the owner and master distiller, is releasing a special single cask release to commemorate this anniversary, the Smögen Jubilee.

The whisky is only available to buy if you have received an invitation to attend the actual party. Guess who's going?

The Smögen Jubilee has been matured in an European oak sherry quarter cask (120 l), cask #8/2012. It has been made using Optic barley peated to 50+ ppm phenols. It was distilled on January 8, 2012, and bottled on August 9, 2015. The total outturn was 222 bottles at 50 cl each.

The Smögen Jubilee is sold at SEK 1000.

Nose (22/25): Appealing and deep sherry sweetness. Warm and embracing wood smoke. Lots of rich, dark chocolate mousse. Hints of something a bit more green hiding in the background, pine wood perhaps, or some herbs...

Taste (22/25): Rich and sweet, almost sugary. It comes with a massive, peaty and spicy punch. Lots of omph here! Pepper, chili, ashes, and honey. It feels almost chewy, that's how rich the mouthfeel is.

Finish (20/25): Medium long finish, still quite sweet. The spiciness is toned down, and I find the 'green' and herbal notes that were barely noticeable on the nose.

Balance (22/25): Another very fine effort from Smögen, I would say. It is still a young whisky, by all means, but very well integrated and with a lovely balance for such a young age.

Score (86/100)

Sláinte!
- Thomas