Fahrenheit 173 - Whisky

St. George Peated (England, 43%):
The nose is quite peaty and malty. Young, rough and a little musty. Also fruity and spirity (like a fruit schnapps). The palate also shows youth but is nicer than the nose: it's sweet and fruity (again, fruit schnapps), also peaty. Peaty finish with fresh notes of mint and citrus. All in all young and rough. Nice finish, though. (81 p)

Mackmyra Svensk Rök (Sweden, 46.1%):
Nice, sweet-ish smoke on the nose but un­for­tu­nately it's also floral and perfumy (from a little too much new oak, I suspect). Fruity (citrus), malty and nutty. Youthful yet complex. The palate is sweet with a prominent oak character and a note of gin­ger­bread. The finish is peaty, quite oaky and spicy with nice refreshing notes of mint and citrus. Verdict: it has a nice, unusual peatiness but the oak character is a bit vulgar. (82 p)

Spirit of Hven Seven Stars #1 "Dubhe" (Sweden, 45%):
The nose has caramelized sugar and vanilla, also oak, malt, a little peat and a hint of cinnamon. Quite nice but un­for­tu­nately there's also a musty off-note. The palate is light and sweet with orange, malt and oak. Young-ish yet bal­anced. Light and sweet at first, then de­velops spices and a little heat. The finish has at first citrus and mint, then lingering notes of oak, gin­ger­bread and black pepper. Also a little peat. All in all youthful yet complex and bal­anced. (85 p)

Slyrs 2007, 3 y.o. (Germany, 43%):
The nose is fragrant, fruity and quite oaky with notes of new oak, vanilla and marzipan. Nice but too oaky. The palate is hot and quite oaky but with a drop of water it's light and sweet with fresh notes of lemon and orange. Still oaky, though (oak shavings). The finish is oaky too, with notes of vanilla and black pepper. All in all it's rather nice for a 3 y.o. (but I would have pre­ferred more time in less active wood). Compared to the 2006 vintage it's less complex and not as nice. (85 p)

Mackmyra Special:08 (Sweden, 46.0%):
Herbal, aromatic nose with new oak, malt, allspice and orange candy. Unusual yet rather nice. Mild, sweet palate with vanilla and citrus. Fresh. De­velops menthol, then oak. The finish has oak and citrus at first, then grows spicy (allspice, again). All in all unusual, in­ter­est­ing and rather nice. More-ish. (86 p)

Hammer Head 1989, 21 y.o. (Czech Republic, 40.7%):
Fragrant, fruity and slightly floral nose with lemon, vanilla, cinnamon and white bread (cinnamon bun). Unusual but rather nice. The palate is mild and sweet. Quite oaky from the new oak but not too much. Rather nice, actually. Oaky finish with cinnamon and a little citrus. Nice but short. All in all it's unusual with in­ter­est­ing character from the fresh oak - yet perhaps a little too oaky. (Thanks to Magnus for the sample!) (86 p)

Amrut Intermediate Sherry (India, 57.1%):
Fragrant, fruity nose with raisins, plum compôte and notes of mint and gin­ger­bread. Very nice! The palate is fresh, fruity and clean, neither sweet nor dry. Lighter and fresher than the nose suggested. Very nice and quite more-ish. The finish is oaky, spicy and a bit simple - dis­ap­point­ing after the nice nose and palate. All in all very nice and more-ish but a little uneven. (87 p)

Kavalan Concertmaster (Taiwan, 40%):
Malty, fruity and oaky nose with a prominent port influence. Also notes of vanilla and gin­ger­bread. Lovely! The palate is medium-bodied, oaky and winey with a note of orange. Neither sweet nor dry. Oaky, fairly dry finish with a note of gin­ger­bread. All in all unusual but very nice and very nicely bal­anced. Mature beyond its years. Impressive! (88 p)

Three new Swedish single malt whiskies
A review of Swedish single malts Box "Pioneer", Hven "Merak" and Smögen "Primör".

Five single malts from Cadenhead's
A review of Ardmore 1997, Balblair 1990, Glen Moray 1992, Strathisla 1987 and Strathmill 1995.

Six Irish whiskeys
A review of Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Tullamore Dew 12, Redbreast 12, Powers John's Lane and Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy.

Four single malts and a single grain from Cadenhead's
A review of Girvan 1979 (single grain), Glencraig 1981, Glen Elgin 1991 (rum cask), Highland Park 1985 and Royal Lochnagar 1996 (rum cask).