Nordic Whisky #134 - Smögen Triple

Smögen Triple, 5 YO, 54 %

Here is a first - again. I love firsts! This is the first ever triple distilled Nordic whisky I have tried. I am not sure if any other even exist, but I am sure someone out there can enlighten me. The Smögen Triple is a vatting of two casks (cask #5/2011 and 6/2011). This was European oak Sauternes barriques, and they were filled in March 2011. In January 2017 the whisky was bottled, with an outturn of 882 bottles. Heavily peated Optic malt was used in the production of this whisky.

The Smögen Triple was released on 2017-02-16, with a price tag of SEK 850. It sold out in about 4 seconds. Madness! Crazy Swedes!

Nose: Certainly milder on the initial approach than what I typically find with these peat bombs from Pär at Smögen. Delicate. Must be the triple distillation making itself known, together with the positive influence of the Sauternes cask. The peat is tempered, I would almost say it is held in check, by the soft but firm sweetness from the cask. It is sort of sugary and earthy, but not as heavy as I find some wine cask maturations. Milk chocolate, deep sugary notes, vanilla and vague hints of something green - grass or pine wood. Fresh baked bread. It just keeps developing like no 5 year old whisky should be able to...

Taste: Oily and rich mouthfeel. Again the peatiness is more relaxed than expected, but certainly to be found. Milk chocolate ashes, soft herbal notes, caramel and vanilla ice cream. Upon subsequent visits I find more minty green ashes, pine trees, sugary coal - and more peat.

Finish: Medium to long finish. Ever so soft. The caramel and vanilla ice cream plays the strongest at this stage. Add a sprinkling of demerara sugar and your good.

Comments: This really works! A bit weird that such a heavy, peaty and full-on whisky as Smögen should work this well when triple distilled. Must be a most fortunate alignment of a great new make, and very good casks. This is amazing. Cheers!

Score (90/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas