Whisky from...? Switzerland 2

OK hands up how many distilleries can you name in Switzerland? No looking in the Malt Whisky Yearbook..... 

Well if, like me, you'd be hard pressed to name one here's a clue - it's also the name of a brewery! Still no idea?

I've reviewed a Swiss whisky before here, that was from the Santis Distillery (part of a brewery), this one of from Rugen (also part of a brewery) not a name I'd heard before!

The Rugenbräu brewery was founded in 1866 when a politician from Kiesen, built a brewery with distillery on the guesthouse meadow belonging to the Hotel Interlaken in Matten near Interlaken. The rock-hewn Rugen rock cellar was built in 1875 and is still in use today.

Their brewhouse was built in 1995 and brandy production followed in 1999 paving the way for whisky making, with the first Swiss Mountain Single Malt launched in 2008 Whisky is nearly always matured in ex-Oloroso sherry casks and are stored in the deep Rugen rock cellar and some are even laid in casks on the eternal ice cave of the Jungfraujoch at almost 3,500m altitude

Swiss Mountain Classic 46% 7yo

Bottler notes: Stored in oloroso sherry barrels in the Rugen rock cellar. With innovative strength and according to traditional production methods, the Swiss Mountain Single Malt Whisky "CLASSIC" emerged in 2008 as the first whisky from the Rugen Distillery.

Tasting notes: Nose A good nose with sweet vinous notes of sherry and hints of malty  caramel. The fruitiness of apricot and peach can also be detected, together with notes of honey. Palate The complex aroma of the nose is confirmed on the palate. Slightly woody, dry flavours are combined with vanilla and caramel to create a wonderful interplay and an impressive balance. This whisky makes its mark with a long aromatic finish.
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My thoughts:

Appearance: bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, take an age to bead up and fall as slow thin legs. 

Nose: Toffee, chewing nuts, berries and a musty bookshop note. There's classic oloroso notes of balsamic vinegar drizzled strawberries, almonds, figs and orange peel.

Palate: Thick chewy arrival, surprisingly sweet. All the notes from the nose are here: toffee, berries, nuts, orange peel. This is a very chewy dram, even for 46% the mouthfeel is excellent. Figs, dates, prunes and plums come out as well as a little dunnage funk and some rum and raisin ice cream. The orange peel from the nose makes a lovely return as the liquid disappears,

Finish: Medium length sherried dried fruit, gentle peppery spice and some oak tannins. 

Overall: A lovely dram, you'd never guess it wasn't scotch. At only 7yo this has matured very well and falls into the dangerously drinkable category. Worth hunting out a bottle if you are in Switzerland! Many thanks to @ExploreWhisky for the sample! 

 

Just for reference the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024 actually lists 13 distilleries in Switzerland!