Archives for November 3, 2020

2x Smögen, 1x Kinghaven Rum!

Smögen Whisky have three new releases and I’ve been lucky enough to receive some samples for tasting (Cheers Robert!)

They are:-

Smögen 100 Proof – Swedish Single Malt Whisky 57.1%

Kinghaven Rum – Diamond Distillery, Versailles Still, 15YO Single Cask 59.2%

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Smögen 100 Proof – Swedish Single Malt Whisky (57.1%)

Distilled from heavily peated optic barley, matured for at least six years in sherry quarter casks, this has been bottled at the traditional ‘100 Proof’. Natural colour and non chill filtered. Presented in a gift carton.

£99.00 – 500ml

Nose: Buttery popcorn, creamy vanilla toffee and hints of peat. Later there’s chocolate and coffee. Palate: Sherbet sweetness, buttery popcorn, creamy vanilla toffee and chocolate – WoW! Finish: Fiery, peaty spice with a nice warming feel. Overall: A powerful whisky and no mistake! The peat grows in strength with time adding a lovely warmth to the dram and balancing the popcorn flavours nicely.

Tasting Notes – Smögen Single Cask No. 12, 2011 Cask 48 Swedish Single Malt Whisky (61%)

Local barley, grown literally on the distillery’s doorstep, matured in a first fill former Bourbon barrel for 8 years. Bottled at cask strength in 2020.

£154.98 – 500ml

Nose: Pleasant peat and smoke aromas with fresh orchard fruits – mainly apple. Sweet biscuit and there’s quite coastal aroma in the background. Palate: Muted peat and smoke with sweet apples. Finish: Strong, fiery spice cranked up to the max! It’s a long long finish with a tobacco dryness at the end. Overall: 61% – yes 61%!!! This dram packs some punch and warms the tummy! Adding some water (highly recommended) releases sweeter, more caramel flavours without losing any of that spicy kick!

Tasting Notes – Kinghaven Rum – Diamond Distillery, Versailles Still, 15YO Single Cask (59.2%)

Single Cask rum selected by Pär Caldenby, independently bottled by Smögen Whisky AB at cask strength. Distilled in Guyana at the Diamond distillery in their Versailles still, which is one of two remaining wooden pot stills, and over 250 years old.
This rum has been finished in Swedish oak, and bottled at cask strength.

£124.98 – 500ml

Nose: Gorgeous rum n’ raisin ice cream – very inviting! Banoffee pie and rum soaked raisins. Palate: Fantastic rum flavour and cane sugar sweetness. Add in some caramel and creamy vanilla chocolate and that’s quite a palate! Finish: Cask strength chilli spiciness! Overall: Adding water fills out this rum with flavours of blackcurrant liquorice coming through. A flavour experinece!

Many thanks to Robert at highfern.com (@angelsnectar) for sending me the samples!

· Highfern Ltd are the proprietors of Angels’ Nectar Whisky and importers of Langatun Whisky, Seven Seals Whisky, Smögen Whisky, Strane Gin & Kinghaven Rum. Alongside the Cairngorms Edition, Angels’ Nectar also offer Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – Original 40%, Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – Rich Peat Edition 46% and Angels’ Nectar Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Islay Edition 47%.