Smögen Distillery is located on the West coast of Sweden. The whisky is heavily peated, bottled at cask strength and every bottling has lots of character!
I have previously shared my tasting notes on the very first 8 YO from Smögen – batch 2019. Today I am tasting the third release of the 8 YO (the second release will follow in a few weeks!), called Swedish puncheons. Here is what founder and blender Pär Caldenby says about it:
Released in the autumn of 2021, this bottling at 56 % abv is heavily peated and fully matured in four large puncheon-shaped casks of virgin Swedish oak, which was toasted to the specification of ”Medium”, meaning a slightly more restrained oak influence, both by means of the lighter toasting level and by means of the very large size. Very malty base character with biscuity notes, complimented by pronounced peaty, spicy and slightly medicinal notes.
The outturn was 2478 bottles. Unfortunately it is not available in Norway, but there are a few left of the 8 YO (batch 2020). In Sweden you might be lucky, though, and get one of the few that is left for SEK 839.
Very rich and complex on the nose, and this is obviously a peated whisky! Warm, dry peat. Dried apricot and mango, and some orange zest. Woody and spicy. I get cinnamon stick, nutmeg and black pepper. Something nutty, maybe Brazil nuts. The smoke is nice and perfectly integrated. Rich and complex sweetness on the palate. Fruity and peaty. Juicy peaches, pineapple from the barbecue – and smoke! The finish is brown sugar and burned caramel. Candied orange. The finish is nice and lingering with some bitter notes.
My score: nose 22 / taste 23 / finish 22 / balance 22 = 89
-Tone
Hey there,
thanks for the review. I made the same experiences with the swedish puncheon bottling. You should try the Dante or the rums from Smöge. They’ pretty nice, too.
Greetings from Germany
Patrick
Still waiting for a release of this bottling in the UK. But I do have a bottle of the 6yr 100 proof, which is a stunning whisky