Mackmyra Seasonal Releases - Björksav

Well known Swedish distillery @Mackmyra release two annual 'seasonal' whiskies usually featuring innovative seasonal characteristics focusing on unusual finishes often reflecting the prevailing season.

I've tried a number of them including Jaktlycka, Gront Te, Äppelblom, Blomstertid and Vintersol, this season's release linked with Springtime - Björksav, let's see what it's like...

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 Birch Sap wine.

 

Distillery notes: 

Mackmyra Björksav (birch sap) is a Swedish single malt whisky inspired by the long-awaited return of spring.

By including casks that were seasoned with Swedish birch sap wine, we have created a floral whisky with a fresh spiciness and sweet notes of vanilla fudge. Björksav is a collaboration with our friends at Grythyttan wine. Grythyttan Björk is made from local birch sap that is tapped just before the birch 'cracks' in the spring. Like Mackmyra, Grythyttan use exceptional crafting skills, show consideration and respect for nature and only use natural ingredients.

Nose: Floral and fruity with a light spiciness, vanilla fudge, sandalwood, cedar and toasted bread. Floral and slightly waxy notes of birch sap wine. Round and fruity notes of cherry, raisins, apple, pear and lemon. 

Taste: A fresh and fruity spiciness with light minerals and herbs together with vanilla fudge, raisins, apple, ripe pears and lemon. Light spices of vanilla, toasted oak, floral honey, sandalwood, cedar, anise, white pepper and ginger. Round oak and vanilla spices together with a slightly oily texture. 

Aftertaste: Light, spicy notes in harmony with toasted oak and dried fruits

My thoughts:

Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, slowly bead up and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: Full on orchard fruit, lots of oaky wood and a hint of spice.

Palate: Creamy arrival, clove and nutmeg spice dances on the tongue, drying wood notes and the orchard fruit from the nose. A little citrus adds a sour note. A little air and some time offers vanilla toffee, some dried fruit, peppery spice and some herbal notes.

Finish: Dry herbal peppery spice and dry oak.

Thoughts: This was matured in a mixture of ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso casks before being finished in birch sap wine cask - a very unusual combination giving an unusual taste. The bourbon vanilla and oloroso dried fruit are both there but the spice and wood from the Mackmyra spirit and birch wine casks both offering a dominating spicy dryness that's slightly balanced by orchard fruit. Another interesting seasonal release - worth a bottle.

Many thanks to @Mackmyra for the sample!

Geeky stuff:

Säsongswhisky Releases
Released	Name		ABV	Cask types
Mar '21	Björksav	Birch Sap	46.1%	Swedish Birch Sap wine casks
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