Well known Swedish distillery @Mackmyra release two annual 'seasonal' whiskies usually featuring innovative seasonal characteristics focusing on unusual finishes often reflecting the prevailing season.
Sweden don't have the same stuck-in-the-mud restrictions on the use of casks that the Scottish whisky industry has. Whilst Scottish distillers must
"Mature in new oak casks and/or in oak casks which have only been used to mature wine (still or fortified) and/or beer/ale and/or spirits with the exception of:
- Wine, beer/ale or spirits produced from, or made with, stone fruits;
- Beer/ale to which fruit, flavouring or sweetening has been added after fermentation;
- Spirits to which fruit, flavouring or sweetening has been added after distillation and where such previous maturation is part of the traditional processes for those wines, beer/ales or spirits."
their Swedish cousins are free to use whatever they like and Mackmyra in particular do.
Previous Säsongswhisky releases (as listed at the end of this blog) have included Glühwine, Calvados, Amarone, Cloudberry wine and even Green Tea soaked casks, this particular release has been matured in casks which had previously been used to mature Swedish blueberries and lingonberry wine.
Distillery notes:
Mackmyra Jaktlycka (Happy hunting) is a Swedish single malt whisky that celebrates autumn and the treasures to be found in the ancient Swedish woods. An engaging trail of blueberries and lingonberries is revealed as the whisky was predominantly matured in casks that previously held Swedish berry wine from the craft producer, Grythyttan. The essence of the whisky is our elegant recipe, aged in casks of Swedish and American oak, combined with a handful of smoky recipe casks for an inviting depth.
The result is an expressive whisky with a smooth creamy texture that branches out in notes of dried fruit, berries, spiciness, raisin and vanilla – A saga told in flavour.
Nose: spicy with warm fruity grape tones and notes of herbs. Soft vanilla oak with aromas of anise, ginger, raisins, pear caramel and vanilla.
Taste: Soft fruity and spicy with berries and dried fruit. Pear, raisins, ginger and vanilla. The texture is creamy and medium bodied.
Aftertaste: Berry, fruity, spicy and oaky with warm notes of raisins.
My thoughts:
Appearance: Orange gold, swirls cling, beads form creating an inverted crown before falling as slow thick legs.
Nose: As expected - huge sweet berry notes strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and even cherries jump out of the glass, a little honey and a hint of icing sugar. A little time in the glass and some air offers oaky vanilla notes and orchard fruit.Palate: Smooth and sweet with an instant red wine dryness. Quite full bodied - spicy and even though only 46.1% has a bit of a kick to it. There's a strange sour note after the liquid has spent some time on the tongue - not quite grapefruit - maybe sour cherries? A few more sips and the whisky offers oak spices and some dried fruit.Finish: Long lingering cherry notes, dry, a little vanilla.Thoughts: An interesting dram, the cask has completely taken over the character of the spirit - this is a long way from Brukswhisky or Mack, the toffee and orchard fruit notes I associate with the 'standard' Mackmyra whiskies have gone - the wine has dried the whisky and added berry fruit notes. Not a bad thing I like it either way and I'm sure you will too - try a bottle!
Many thanks to @Mackmyra for the sample, and @MckWhisky for help with the dates below!
| Säsongswhisky Releases | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | Name | ABV | Cask types | |
| Sep '20 | Jaktlycka | Happy hunting | 46.1% | Swedish berry wine casks |
| Mar '20 | Grönt Te | Green Tea | 46.1% | Newly saturated Ex-Oloroso casks rinsed with Green Tea |
| Sep '19 | Vintersol | Winter Sun | 46.1% | Quinta Do Vallado Port Wine casks |
| Mar '19 | Äppelblom | Apple Bloom | 46.1% | Christian Drouin Calvados casks |
| Sep '18 | Vinterglöd | Winter Glow | 46.1% | Swedish mulled wine and PX Sherry casks |
| Apr '18 | Gruvguld | Gold from the mine | 46.1% | Oloroso and PX sherry |
| Mar '17 | Ten Years | Ten Years | 46.1% | Bourbon, Oloroso and new american oak casks |
| Sep '17 | Skördetid | Harvest Time | 46.1% | Masi Amarone cask |
| Sep '16 | Vinterdröm | Winter dream | 46.1% | Plantation Rum casks |
| Mar '16 | Blomstertid | Flowering time | 46.1% | Swedish cherry wine casks |
| Oct '15 | Vinterrök | Winter smoke | 46.1% | Scottish Strong Ale casks |
| May '15 | Sommartid | Summertime | 46.1% | Swedish cloudberry wine casks |
| Oct '14 | Iskristall | Ice crystal | 46.1% | Pedro Ximenez sherry casks |
| May '14 | Midnattssol | Midnight Sun | 46.1% | Swedish wine made from birch sap |
| Oct '13 | Midvinter | Midwinter | 46.1% | French Bordeaux casks, glühwine casks and sherry casks |
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