A new week of deliciousness has begun! The dram hiding behind window #8 of the Drinks by the Dram Whisky Advent Calendar takes us on a taste adventure all the way to Sweden – it’s Mackmyra Svensk Rök / Amerikansk Ek!
You might reckon it’s a little early to start plotting your Christmas Day evening leftovers sandwich, but we would disagree. Now is the optimum time to put some thought into it. Will you be making less food this year due to not having guests because of the whole COVID situation? It might be a smart decision to keep a few Tupperware containers near the table and tactically tuck away a few morsels in anticipation of fewer leftovers. Will there loaf of bread handy for the sandwiches? Appoint a Bread Chief to make sure this happens, and let everyone in your household know who the Bread Chief is and their responsibilities. Can cranberry sauce be used as a festive replacement for butter on the sandwiches? Yes, but don’t make a habit of it. Now, with that all squared away, we have another important topic to attend to…
It’s 8 December, and that means we’re ready to take a peek at what lies behind the eighth window of the Drinks by the Dram Whisky Advent Calendar! Today, we’re being treated to a tremendous single malt whisky from Sweden’s very own Mackmyra! The specific whisky in question is Mackmyra Svensk Rök / Amerikansk Ek, which means Swedish Smoke / American Oak (if you haven’t brushed up on your Swedish for this sort of situation). It was inspired by the old Swedish tradition of seasoning and preserving food by infusing it with juniper smoke, and as such, peat and some juniper twigs are used to give this expression its smoky profile. You might have also clocked the “Amerikansk Ek” bit of the name, and surmised that it was aged in new American oak casks. That would have been very astute of you to have figured out, and we commend you if this was the case. To give us a bit more info on this whisky, and the goings-on at Mackmyra, we were lucky enough to ask Mackmyra’s very own brand ambassador Richard McKeand a few questions!
The Mackmyra Distillery in all its glory!
Master of Malt: Mackmyra Svensk Rök / Amerikansk Ek brings together Swedish peat-smoked malt with American oak. What makes that combo so tasty?
Richard McKeand: Sweet and smoky? What a match! By combining both our smoked and heavily smoked malt together with virgin American oak casks, you get the best of both worlds. Rich, thick, and earthy smoke from the malt, perfectly complementing the sweet caramels, vanillas and gentle spices from the casks.
MoM: Mackmyra released a couple of tasty whiskies that have developed from collaborations in 2020, like Grönt Te with Yuko Ono Sthlm and Jaktlycka with Grythyttan Vin. How exciting are these for you and the team?
RK: We love being able to collaborate with other people and brands. Establishing successful and mutually beneficial relationships with others, allows us to increase our scope for innovation in our own products, as well as helping to support those who we work with.
MoM: What has been your favourite whisky released this year?
RK: Grönt Te, which was our Spring/Summer 2020 seasonal release.
MoM: Will you be having a post-Christmas dinner dram this year? And if so, what will it be?
RK: It’s so hard to say! It will depend on how I feel at the time, but I expect my top two options would be the Vinterglöd or this one, the Svensk Rök / Amerikansk Ek. Both are perfect for the festive season.
It was Mackmyra Svensk Rök / Amerikansk Ek behind window #8!
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose: Toasted oak, earthy peat and a little minerality balance against gingerbread, orchard fruit and a wave of pine-y juniper.
Palate: Salted caramel and toasted oak form a core that apricot pastry, white pepper and vanilla.
Finish: A very long and sweet finish is tempered by lingering smoke.
