Single Malt
1 Jul 2011
2 Aug 2015
Sherry
The Smögen Sherry Project has seen their Swedish single malt whiskies finished in Sherry casks for increasingly longer amounts of time, and we've now reached 1:4, which has been fully matured in first fill Sherry casks! How exciting, especially for those of you that love your heavily-Sherried expressions. This was distilled in July 2011 and bottled at 57.2% ABV in August 2015. 909 bottles were produced.
Not a pun about "ears" of corn, either. Oh yes. Smogen is sensational. It is BIG whisky. I am lucky to know Par, though have yet (unaccountably) to visit this stunningly beautiful part of Sweden where he lives and works (about 90 mins North of Gothenburg – Goteborg). I have two of his whiskies – the first is the Sherry Project 1:4 which is a glorious sherry monster of a dram. Superbly crafted – great barrel, but spirit not drowned by sherry as so often can be the case. The second one is heavily peated, and also counterpoised by Sherry – the French Quarter. Both of these are naturally cask strength. The London Strane Gin is fine too, Navy strength particularly. If Henric Molin from the Orosund island of Hven (Spirit of Hven) is the Georges Seurat of Svensk whisky, then Par Caldenby is the Vincent van Gogh!! Both produce masterpieces, but different styles. Indeed, with Herno Gin in Harnosand, and Box whisky in Bjartra (I was lucky enough to visit Herno (near Harnosand, on the Hoga Kusten) and meet Jon Holmgren in 2014, and I also went to Box for their 8th festivalen (2014) and the 10th (2016). Sweden is producing some stunning high-quality spirits. No longer just vodka and aqvavits!! Go Sverige Go!!
