Nordic Whisky #73 - Smögen Sherry Project 1:3

Smögen Sherry Project 1:3, 4 YO, 53,7 %

On October 1, 2015, the third installment in the sherry project from Swedish Smögen Distillery was released. The Smögen Sherry Project 1:3 is four years old. The first two years and 10 months it was matured in 120 litre virgin European oak Quarter casks (cask #36-38), then it received a 14 month finish in a 1st fill sherry butt. It was distilled in July 2011, and bottled on 2015-08-02. The total outturn was 666 bottles, and it was sold out immediately. The sales price was SEK 921.

You can read more about the sherry project and the first two installments here and here.

Nose (23/25): It smells as if someone has just torched a sherry bodega on a beach where the wind is picking up and salty sea spray is whipping against the flames. This is potent stuff! So, so rich and sweet and fruity and peaty. The different dimensions here are close to perfectly balanced, each one playing an important part - individually and as a firm support of the others. Home-made caramel pudding, vanilla, caramel sauce, rich dried fruits, soft and exotic spices, hot embers, sweet ashes, and soft herbal notes.

Taste (22/25): Rich and full mouthfeel. Sweet, certainly sherried, and relatively spicy.

Finish (22/25): Oily and nutty. Hot honey with ashes mixed in. Medium long and rich all the way. It sort of thickens into a very rich and sweet syrup towards the end. Strange and nice. I'm getting thirsty now!

Balance (22/25): A lovely whisky, and in my book the best entry in the Smögen Sherry Project range.

Score (89/100)

Image from Master of Malt.

Sláinte! - Thomas