Mackmyra Svensk Rök Amerikansk Ek

I tried the Mackmyra Svensk Rök some two years ago. It simply means Swedish Smoke. Now the Swedish distiller offers a variant on this malt: Amerikansk Ek, meaning American Oak. The difference is thus the casks. The Svensk Rök was also on American oak, but casks that had Swedish heads. This is not the case for this release. Let’s see if we can spot the difference.

A candy-like sweetness of vanilla and dark & sweet fruit is followed immediately with notes of toasted oak and smoke. Tobacco leaves, apricot pastry and some liquorice follow suit. Christmas cake. Candied oranges. There is a salty element in there, but it’s quite elusive. For a moment there, I was thinking… pickle. That would be a first for me. Funny, no? But make no mistake: this is a very good and inviting nose.

It is wonderfully oily and immediately sweet and smoky at the same time. The smoke even becomes quite big. The spices kick in with a vengeance: white pepper and ginger in the lead, followed by vanilla and nutmeg. The fruit is smothered (figs, pears) and the salty element return (no pickle, this time). Even a touch tarry and syrupy. I quite like this.

The finish is very long and sweet, but it is the smoke that lingers the longest.

My, what a lovely Swedish peaty whisky. And you can buy it for 80 EUR. Not cheap, but very good.

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