Spirit of Hven Sankt Claus 50cl Whisky

“Henric Molin and team are on the tiny island of Hven/Ven, somewhere fought over between Denmark and Sweden - and not far from the Orosundbron ("The Bridge" - the Crime series). Well it would be a crime to overlook such quality. All of the whiskies (and by the way, there are several pot-still gins, aqvavits, vodkas too) are superbly crafted. If Par Caldenby from Smogen is Van Gogh, then Henric Molin is Georges Seurat, with a pointilliste attention to every detail. Both styles are masterly. I really recommend the Seven Stars series, and this number 4 (there will be 7, as there are 7 stars in the Big Dipper constellation) in particular. The Sankt Claus is of course the Xmas dram - rich warm, red-berries. The island of Hven is fascinating, as it is the place where Tycho Brahe worked (OK so not everyone knows the story of heliocentricity I know) - without his work, then Johannes Kepler would not have made the laws of planetary motion (see http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/brahe.html). There is a great museum on the island devoted to this. The island itself only has around 350 inhabitants, but 1000s go there in the Summer to visit. Nearly everyone on the island is glad to see strangers, and are kind, thoughtful, welcoming and considerate (much like nearly all Swedes I know). STRONGLY recommended. Get the whisky. Go to Skane (the bread-basket of Sweden - food and drink are excellent there). ”

David Goldsmith