This is a single grain whisky released by House of Hazelwood. The name of the distillery is not disclosed. Distilled all the way back in 1968, and matured in a single European oak ex-sherry butt. This unique expression is limited to 303 bottles.

The Cask Trials (House of Hazelwood) was selling for GBP 3800, but is now sold out.

Nose: Super intense and delightfully rich and complex. Resinous and mysterious, with raisins, figs and dates. So deeply, darkly sweet that the nose almost feels sticky, if you can believe it. I mean that as a compliment, be assured of that. With time, white pepper, old leather and hints of sun-warmed, dry oak emerge. Given even more time, dark chocolate and honey cake hot from the oven join the feast.

Taste: Full bodied and even more intense, concentrated and complex than the nose. Again, dried fruits dominate, figs and dates in particular. Sticky, decadent honey adds to the immense richness and almost syrupy character.

Finish: Very, very long. Darker still, sweeter still, more enticing still. This whisky is downright seductive. Dried fruits, mellow sugary sweetness, the soft tingle of exotic spices, cigar box and tobacco leaf, white chocolate, dried orange peel and the barest hint of beeswax all dance on the tongue in perfect harmony. There are whispers of oak, certainly, but the oak never interferes. Instead, it lifts the whole experience another level or three. So rich and thick it is almost syrupy in consistency.

Comment: Simply wow!

Score 95/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

The front label provides the following details: “Matured in a 100L refill American oak barrel for five years.”

The Hiernagla Leidang Single Cask 002-2021 is available to buy at NOK 1140 (20867702).

Nose: Needs a little time in the glass to settle down. Warm and fruity, with some oakiness in the form of pencil shavings. Malt and chocolate bars left out in the sun. With time, even more chocolate emerges, alongside vanilla in various guises. Hints of orchard fruits and peanut butter linger in the background.

Taste: Full bodied. Not particularly sweet at all, despite what the nose might suggest. Bitter notes of rowan berries and wet oak planks dominate, accompanied by a fair bit of spiciness. It all feels somewhat disjointed, with the various elements struggling to find their balance.

Finish: Medium long. Remains rather dry, with the spices becoming more prominent. Mostly dry, cracked black pepper now, followed by hints of soot and coal towards the end. A rather austere conclusion.

Comment: Still searching for its balance.

Score 83/100

This is Nordic whisky review #520 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.

Sláinte!
- Thomas

Distilled 2018-06-06, initially matured in ex-aquavit cask, then finished for an unspecified period in ex-Oloroso sherry cask (cask #137). bottled 2026-06-29, and limited to 250 bottles (50 cl).

The Bivrost 2018 8 YO (Secret Bottle Shop) is available to buy from the Secret Bottle Shop online at GBP 95.

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch and toasted oak at first sniff, followed by big notes of dried fruits. There is also a distinct green and herbal character here, with echoes of caraway and pine needles. With time, the herbal and borderline floral notes twist, turn and morph, but never quite take over. The aquavit cask is thankfully a fairly well-tamed beast here.

Taste: Full bodied and creamy in character. Sweet, rich and wonderfully warming, with dried fruits and white pepper leading the way. Then comes a sudden flash of mulled wine, with rich red wine notes mingling with an assortment of dried herbs and spices. A lovely interplay between sweetness and spice.

Finish: Medium long. More of the sherry richness and dried fruits, accompanied by warming notes of fudge and gentle spiciness. The sweetness gradually settles, leaving a slightly green, herbal touch towards the end.

Comment: Sherry richness meets restrained aquavit spices. 

Score 86/100

This is Nordic whisky review #519 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.

Sláinte!
-Thomas

This is an Icelandic whisky distilled at 64° Reykjavik Distillery. The distillery was established in 2009, as the first malt distillery on the island. I am unsure of when tye started making whisky, as they also have a number of other products, but all small batch whisky released so far seem to have been distilled in 2018.

The expression I have here for review was distilled 2018, then double matured in ex-bourbon then ex-red wine cask (cask #3), then bottled 2025.

Nose: Malt leads the way, followed by ripe apples and pears, and then the slightly damp, woody character of wet planks. With time, red berries and vanilla emerge, adding a softer, sweeter dimension.

Taste: Medium bodied. Somewhat rough around the edges, clearly showing its young age. Ginger brings a little spicy warmth, accompanied by vanilla, malt candy and mild oakiness. A straightforward, youthful character with a slightly rustic edge.

Finish: Short. Vanilla, white pepper and a touch of floral perfume. Mild astringency develops, with a hint of mint adding a little freshness as we come in for a fairly quick landing.

Comment: Clean, clear and youthful.

Score 80/100

This is Nordic whisky review #518 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.

Sláinte!
-Thomas

The distillery describe this inaugural release as follows (see source):

“In Q1 2027 we will release our first edition whisky at launch events in Europe, Asia and North America. 

We’ve had whisky since early 2026, but together with our tasting panel of international whisky experts, we have been monitoring the maturation of the whisky and deciding on the flavour profile we want to issue as our first release, based on the spirit philosophy and manifesto we made in the very beginning. It will be a vatting of mainly ex-bourbon casks and ex-Bordeaux NEOC casks from ASC Barrels, a combination that has very exciting and complimentary qualities.”

Nose: Fresh and fruity, with rich malty notes and a certain youthful character. With time, creamy vanilla and ripe orchard fruits emerge, accompanied by soft, earthy notes lurking quietly in the background.

Taste: Full bodied. An initial burst of spiciness, with pepper and mild oakiness leading the way. The fruitiness is more subdued here, while the earthiness from the nose carries through as gentle vegetal notes. Ginger and a distinctly gristy maltiness come along for the ride, adding a slightly rustic edge.

Finish: Medium long. A little drier now, with the oakiness bringing some noticeable astringency. The spices gradually settle, leaving creamy vanilla and caramel to provide a softer, sweeter ending.

Comment: Youthful malt with a rustic edge. 

Score 84/100

This is Nordic whisky review #517 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.

Sláinte!
-Thomas

Fuji Gotemba Distillery just launched their new core range product, the Fuji 12 YO Single Grain. The official press release from parent company Kirin Holdings (see source) reads:

“Produced at FUJI GOTEMBA DISTILLERY, the new whiskey will launch in the United Kingdom and France from October, followed by the United States and airport duty-free stores in Japan from November. A domestic launch in Japan is planned for 2027 or later. [..] This special Single Grain Japanese Whiskey is crafted from the three distinctive grain whisky styles uniquely produced at FUJI GOTEMBA DISTILLERY. Each component of whisky was carefully selected at its individual peak of maturity, after its distinctive character had fully blossomed.”

⁠The three distinct grain styles produced at Fuji Gotemba Distillery are described by Master Blender Jota Tanaka as follows (very simplified):

• Scotch-style - light: produced using multi-column continuous distillation

• Canadian-style - medium: produced using a kettle distillation system (as introduced by Seagram, joint owner of the distillery when it was started in 1973. Seagram is no longer an owner)

• Bourbon-style - heavy: produced using a beer column and doubler system.

Note that Fuji Gotemba Distillery does not use rye in the production of their grain whisky.

By the way, over the next couple of years we can also expect both a Fuji 12 YO Blended whisky, and a Fuji 12 YO Single Malt.

Nose: Very soft, fruity and appealing. Ripe orchard fruits mingle with warm, mellow notes of dried fruits. Fudge and creamy vanilla add a lovely sweetness. With time, a gentle nuttiness emerges, accompanied by soft notes of milk chocolate. Rich, inviting and beautifully balanced.

Taste: Full bodied. Rich and complex fruitiness that arrives in wave after wave. Ripe orchard fruits and dried fruits take turns in the spotlight, accompanied by deep, luscious sweetness. Fudge and demerara sugar add further richness, while toasted oak provides a nicely balanced counterpoint.

Finish: Medium to long. The waves just keep coming. Very rich and almost creamy in texture, with the fruity sweetness lingering beautifully. White pepper and cinnamon bring a gentle spiciness, before a subtle hint of citrus adds a refreshing twist towards the end.

Comment: A truly refined and inspired single grain.

Score 89/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

Another new release from Myken Distillery over the past few weeks. The Myken Echoes of Islay is a limited release. Distilled 2018 and matured in a single 200L ex-Islay cask (cask #18/005). Matured for 8 years and 6 months before being bottled. Limited to 295 bottles (70 cl). So this is unpeated whisky matured in a cask that has previously held heavily peated Islay single malt.

The Myken Echoes of Islay is available to buy in Norway at NOK 1800 (20983701).

Nose: Orchard fruits and gentle wood smoke, accompanied by a soft spiciness in the form of white pepper. With time, the fruitiness grows richer and juicier, taking on an almost tropical character. A lovely contrast between the fresh fruits and the delicate smoke.

Taste: Full bodied. Dry and sooty right from the start, with white pepper leading the charge. Earthy, almost dusty notes of cinnamon and nutmeg follow, with liquorice close behind. A distinctly darker and spicier experience than the nose suggests.

Finish: Medium long. The dry, sooty character intensifies, turning positively bone dry now. Dark chocolate milkshake brings a curious creamy richness to the mix, alongside toasted oak and pencil shavings. Creamy and sooty all the way to the end.

Comment: Dark and sooty endings. 

Score 86/100

This is Nordic whisky review #516 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.

Sláinte!
-Thomas

Matured in a single refill ex-sherry butt (cask #3452), bottled 2023-07-26, and limited to 532 bottles.

Nose: Deep, sweet and earthy notes of dried fruits. A touch of spiciness and moderate oaky astringency add structure. With time, the earthy character deepens and transmogrifies into freshly turned black soil. Dark, rich and rather intriguing.

Taste: Full bodied, with full-on sweetness and a semi-dry character. Dried fruits and dark chocolate lead the way, followed by slightly burnt caramel and hints of white pepper. Then comes a wave of red berries, with a subtle tartness from rowan berries adding an interesting twist.

Finish: Very long. Soft peppery notes are beautifully tempered by herbal honey. Toasted oak and dark chocolate provide a rich backdrop, while red berry jam and old sherry bring a deep, lingering sweetness.

Comment: Richly rewarding. 

Score 92/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

Matured in a single refill ex-sherry butt (cask #1067), bottled 2016-07-26, and limited to 580 bottles.

Nose: Lovely, rich and wonderfully fruity. Orchard fruits mingle with deep, vibrant notes of red berries. Juicy and inviting, with a luscious fruitiness that just keeps giving.

Taste: Full bodied. Very rich and deeply fruity, with orchard fruits and dried fruits in abundance. A wonderfully creamy mouthfeel, with cinnamon and earthy vanilla adding warmth and depth. Strawberry milkshake with a generous sprinkling of chipped, toasted oak. Deliciously indulgent.

Finish: Long. The deep, sweet fruitiness continues to unfold, revealing layer upon layer of rich, dessert-like flavours. A wonderfully indulgent experience that lingers and keeps on giving.

Comment: Decadent dessert delight. 

Score 91/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

This is a Summer 2023 release in The Family Casks series by Glenfarclas. Matured in a single refill ex-sherry hogshead (cask #6226), bottled 2023-07-19, and limited to 268 bottles.

Nose: Dried fruits with a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Red berries and toasted oak add further depth, giving the nose a pleasantly fruity yet slightly spicy character.

Taste: Full bodied. Some oakiness and mild spices up front, nicely reflecting the nose. Then the fruitiness softens, shifting towards ripe orchard fruits. Almond paste adds a gentle, nutty sweetness.

Finish: Medium to long. Marzipan, dried fruits and creamy vanilla take centre stage now. Towards the end, hints of orange zest, leather and dried rhubarb emerge, bringing a slightly tart edge to the semi-dry finish.

Comment: Fruity richness. 

Score 88/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

This is an independent bottling from Watt Whisky. A Strathmill single malt matured for ten years in an ex-bourbon hogshead. Limited to 310 bottles.

The Strathmill 2014 10 YO is available in Norway at NOK 1393 (20682401).

Nose: Lots of vanilla going on here, followed by playful notes of apple and pear. With time, things take a slightly darker and richer turn, with toffee, malt and warm apple pie adding a comforting sweetness.

Taste: Full bodied. A little spicier than the nose, and perhaps a touch sweeter as well. Otherwise, there is excellent balance and a seamless carryover from the nose, with creamy vanilla, orchard fruits and warm, malty sweetness working nicely together.

Finish: Medium long. A certain bitterness emerges now, bringing a drier and more oaky character to the sweetness. A hint of rowan berries adds a pleasantly tart edge towards the end.

Comment: Playful, with a bitter twist. 

Score 85/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

This is an independent bottling from Watt Whisky. A Miltonduff single malt matured for ten years in an ex-bourbon hogshead. Limited to 325 bottles.

The Miltonduff 2014 10 YO is available in Norway at NOK 1398 (20682301).

Nose: A little shy on first approach. Crème brûlée, milk chocolate and a dusting of icing sugar. With time, tropical fruits and dusty vanilla emerge, adding a little more depth.

Taste: Full bodied and not shy at all on the palate. Big and bold is more like it! Warm and lively, with peppery spices and toasted oak. Honey-glazed ripe apples, served warm, bring a rich and comforting sweetness.

Finish: Medium long. The spices mellow out fairly quickly, leaving behind sweet notes of apple and pear. Almost sticky in character, with the fruitiness lingering gently towards the end.

Comment: Shy nose, bold and sweet palate. 

Score 86/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

Here is the third collaboration release from the independent bottler Turntable Spirits. The blend breakdown this time is as follows (see the product page):

• 36% Amrut 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

• 25% BenRiach ex-Madeira barrique

• 23% Tamdhu 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel

• 16% Cameronbridge 2nd fill ex-red wine barrel

The Turntable Collaboration Drop 03 Amrut is available in Norway at NOK 1361 (20843801).

Nose: Sweet and inviting, with cool notes of orchard fruits, honey and vanilla. With time, delicate hints of strawberry and peach emerge, adding a softer, summery fruitiness.

Taste: Full bodied. A full-on flavour fest! Creamy mouthfeel, with white pepper and toasted oak up front. Then comes a parade of fruits, ripe, dried and tinned (not all at the same time, mind you). Peach, pear, pineapple, apple and watermelon all make an appearance.

Finish: Medium to long. The spiciness persists in a playful way, now accompanied by an almost sooty character. The fruitiness settles down to tinned peaches and honey-glazed apples. A touch of milk chocolate and oaky astringency round things off.

Comment: A playful and vibrant fruit fest. 

Score 86/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

A new limited release from Norwegian distillery Myken. Here are the cold facts on this 134 bottle special edition for the UK market:

Our first whisky both made from Norwegian malted barley, as well as matured exclusively in casks made from Norwegian oak. This gives a fruity sweetness, combined with the warm and spicy flavors from the Norwegian oak.

Facts:

• Distilled: From July 2022, until February 2023

• Malt: Norwegian malted barley from Bonsak, our main supplier

• Bottled: april 26

• Age: 3 years 1 month

• Casks: Norwegian oak, 2 x 30L and 1 x 50L

Nose: Warm and autumnal. Malty, with dusty notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Dried fruits galore, alongside hot fudge, dark chocolate and thoroughly melted marshmallows. You might think this sounds rather Christmassy, but it is lighter and drier than that. Surprisingly refined for its age. With time also cocoa with just a few drops of coffee mixed in, and an ever so soft hint of funk.

Taste: Full bodied, very rich and smooth. The palate closely follows the nose, dark, warm, sweet and almost sticky in character. Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves lead a veritable symphony of spices. Beautifully controlled, though, with no crazy shenanigans here. Earthy vanilla and a soft nuttiness add further depth.

Finish: Medium long. Rich, warm and soothingly spicy throughout. Massive caramel notes emerge towards the end, accompanied by a hint of maple syrup with a peppery twist. It brings to mind super-premium, high-ABV bourbon, but with a rich maltiness of its own. There is also something reminiscent of Kavalan in the remarkable refinement, concentration and sheer richness.

Comment: This is a wild ride!

Score 90/100

This is Nordic whisky review #515 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.

Sláinte!
-Thomas

The Nordic whisky industry has changed dramatically over the past decade, not only in the number of distilleries and bottles reaching drinkers, but also in the visibility of Nordic whisky on the secondary market. Auction data from DramX records 11.608 lots of Nordic whisky at auction since 2012. The growth is particularly striking in the annual number of lots: from 88 recorded in 2014 to 1.876 in 2024.

Over the same period, the number of Nordic distilleries represented at auction rose from nine in 2014 to 38 in 2025. Sweden dominates by volume, while Denmark, Norway and Finland have made a significant impact since 2020.

The chart below illustrates this development (note that the 2026 data is YTD as of 2026-09-14).

If you apply the code whiskysaga on DramX you get 50% off first monthly subscription.

The distilleries dominating the market

A small group of distilleries make up much of the auction activity. Mackmyra is by far the largest name in the dataset, with 4.071 lots recorded since first appearing in 2012. This is not surprising as Mackmyra was the first single malt distillery in modern times in the Nordics. They started production back in 1999.

Fellow Swedish distillery High Coast (formerly Box) ranks second with 2.299 lots. Interestingly, Norway's Aurora Spirit, whose whisky is sold under the Bivrost brand, is third with 1.836 lots. This is interesting because Aurora Spirit was only established in 2016 and first appeared at auction in 2020.

Stauning is the largest Danish presence on this list, with 1.041 lots. Again, not very surprising as it is one of the oldest Danish distilleries and by far the largest in production capacity. Smögen from Sweden ranks fifth with 524 lots.

I find it a little surprising that the Finnish distillery Teerenpeli is only in 10th place. They started whisky production back in 2002, making them one of the oldest Nordic distilleries.

Top 10 Nordic distilleries by number of auction lots

More bottles for sale, but prices are going down

The increase in auction volume has not been accompanied by a general rise in prices. The typical Nordic whisky bottle in 2026 sells for £38. Between 2016 and 2023 the price per bottle hovered in the range £50 to £65.

I do not think we should read too much into this. Most Nordic whisky brought to market is still young (5 to 10 years old), and only a select few have even been around long enough to release a 20-year-old whisky. For example, in Norway only two distilleries have released 10-year-old whiskies.

Also during this period, more and more Nordic distilleries have slowly moved from releasing a couple of expensive and very limited editions annually to having their first core range products which naturally sell in larger volumes and at lower prices.

The premium end of Nordic whisky

Now let us look at the typical bottle prices per distillery rather than number of lots. This gives a radically different list. Det Norske Brenneri (their brands are Eiktyrne and Audny) sits at the top of the list, with a typical price of £118. Please note that this is based on just seven lots! Aurora Spirit is close behind in second place with a typical bottle price of £110. This is a lot more significant as this sales price is based on 1.836 lots. It should be noted here that Aurora Spirit has actively used auctions to promote their brand and whisky. They have themselves launched a small number of exclusive bottles of their first releases at auction.

Smögen is the highest-priced Swedish distillery in the top ten at £75, followed by Denmark's Thy Whisky at £65 and Norway's Myken at £60.

It’s also notable that Mackmyra, with the by far highest number of auction lots, is nowhere to be seen on this second table.

Top 10 Nordic distilleries by typical auction price

Nordic whisky reviewed on Whisky Saga

All in all, I have reviewed 514 different Nordic whiskies since I started the blog in 2012. I thought it would be interesting to add a graph showing how the reviews are spread across the Nordic countries and the years since I started:

What we have learned - if anything

The most obvious is that Nordic whisky has moved from being a very small presence at auction to a more visible and available category. We now see close to 2,000 lots per year, and close to 40 Nordic distilleries are represented.

A greater auction activity has not resulted in increasing prices. I believe this is mainly down to 1) a changed mix of bottles reaching auction; more higher volume core range products, and 2) a greater supply both in terms of number of distilleries and higher volumes for the individual releases. I am sure other factors also contributed, such as a higher cost of living and consumers moving toward more affordable products.

I also see this data as further proof that Nordic whisky is an up-and-coming category.

Data note: Figures supplied by DramX and based on 4.8 million auction results across 30 auction sites. The charts state that the figures are current to 14 September 2026. Prices shown are hammer prices.

Sláinte!
- Thomas

I was recently back at GlenDronach Distillery (see details from my previous visit). Back in 2022 it was announced that Brown-Forman, owner of GlenDronach Distillery, was going head with a £30m plus investment to increase production capacity.

“The project is estimated to take three years, with the expectation of doubling the distillery’s capacity and improving its operational energy efficiency.”
- Whisky Magazine (source)

I visited the distillery just a few weeks ago and could witness the expansion personally. The new stills had only been run around six times by then (mid August 2026), and everything was still fresh.

All in all the new expansion brings the production capacity of the distillery up from around 1.4 million lpa to close to 3 million lpa. Actual production is expected to be around 2.4 million lpa.

The expansion includes a new full lauter mash tun with a capacity of 6 tons (27k liters) replacing the old mash tun with a capacity of 3.76 ton (18k liters). The new mash tun was in place around a year ago, and for months they were both used in parallell. They still run three waters at 65.5, 87 and 96 degrees. The output of the new mash tun is enough for three batches of distillation.

They have also put in 10 new wash backs, expanding on the existing four. They do not need all this new capacity currently, and have just recently started using the new ones. Each wash back has a capacity of 27k liters. Fermentation time is, as before, 60 hours.

Finally they have installed two new stills in a new still house block, bringing the total to 6 stills. The last expansion in production was back in 1967.

The two news stills are near exact copies of the old ones, but they are raised a bit higher. The reason for this, as I understood it, is to improve the working conditions for the production staff.

The new stills have a very high energy efficiency with advanced heat recovery.

As a bonus I will also add a picture of this beautifully restored old sled that was used during the winter way, way back when. This felt like a little bit of Norway in the GlenDronach courtyard.

Sláinte!
- Thomas 

This is an expression in the The Master's Anthology from GlenDronach. Other releases in this series are Ode to the Valley (see review) and Ode to the Embers (see review). The GlenDronach Ode to the Dark has been matured exclusively in ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The age is not disclosed for this expression, but I have it on good authority that the component whiskies here are between 8 and 12 years old.

The GlenDronach Ode to the Dark is available in Norway at NOK 1249 (20866401).

Nose: The nose certainly projects a dark theme straight off. But it is a welcoming and safe darkness, with no ominous or scary shenanigans going on here. Cocoa beans, dark chocolate, coffee beans and dried fruits, with raisins and dates standing out. Sticky, sweet cherry jam adds richness. With time, earthy vanilla, leather, toasted oak, pencil shavings and even a hint of mint emerge. It almost feels sooty on the nose.

Taste: Full bodied. Dark is the theme on the palate as well. Somewhat dry in character, with deep sherry notes, red berries, dried fruits and softly burnt caramel sauce. Almond paste and earthy cinnamon add further depth.

Finish: Medium long. Remains dry and fruity, with raisins and figs. Some oaky astringency develops now, alongside pencil shavings and toasted oak. Dark chocolate and a hint of soot follow, turning minty and herbal towards the end.

Comment: Dark, rich and comfortable. 

Score 87/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

This is a hand-filled Distillery Exclusive in the series Cask of Character. Distilled 2014-05-06, matured in a single ex-Pedro Ximénez puncheon (cask #5826), and bottled August 2026.

Nose: A delight to nose. So soft, so fluffy, so cosy. Dried fruits, caramel and toasted oak. With time, the picture becomes clearer, revealing raisins, figs, dark caramel and sun-warmed oak.

Taste: Full bodied. Dry and spicy in character. It really packs a punch (puncheon?), firing on all cylinders. A massive wave of dried fruits and red berries, followed by cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and white pepper.

Finish: Medium to long. It just keeps firing away. Massive, big, bold and beautiful. A sherry bomb that goes off immediately, before peppermint, dark chocolate and cut grass emerge towards the end.

Comment: Yowza!

Score 89/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

This is a hand-filled Distillery Exclusive in the series Cask of Character. Distilled 2013-09-06, matured in a single 1st fill ex-Amontillado cask (cask #726), and bottled August 2026.

Let me just say that hand-filled distillery exclusives like this is one of many major reasons to go visit distilleries in person.

Nose: Juicy and fruity. Soft, sweet notes of milk chocolate and caramel-flavoured ice cream. Warm and comforting. With time, it simply turns softer, mellower and sweeter, with almond milk and freshly ground coffee beans adding further richness.

Taste: Full bodied. Scarily drinkable at this ABV. Sweet, rich, fruity and simply vibrant with life. The juiciness from the nose carries straight through, with red berries and orchard fruits. Some nuttiness, plenty of chocolate and a mildly earthy undertone.

Finish: Medium to long. Continues to entice and tease with its rich, fruity sweetness. Wave after wave of fruits, nuts, nougat, chocolate and sugary sweetness, before ending on pure liquid sunshine.

Comment: Vibrant, decadent and dangerously drinkable. 

Score 92/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas

This is the 14th release in Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Blue Hanger seriers. The 13th release was released back in 2016, so I guess this is a kind of comeback or re-launch. This whisky was crafted from seven carefully selected casks, six ex-bourbon hogsheads and one ex-sherry butt. It was bottled earlier this year (2026) and limited to 2500 bottles. The oldest components in this whisky are 34 years old (source: Master of Malt).

“Named for William “Blue” Hanger, third Lord Coleraine, this whisky honours a Georgian dandy famed for his blue attire and impeccable taste. A devoted patron of Berry Bros. & Rudd at the end of the 18th century, he embodied elegance, loyalty, and discernment - qualities captured in every carefully crafted drop.”

The Blue Hanger 14th Limited Release is available in Norway at NOK 1778 (20682601), and in the UK at around GBP 110.

Nose: Light and delicate, with milk chocolate, nougat, orchard fruits, red berries and floral honey. With time, citrus, apple wax and a whiff of toasted oak add further complexity.

Taste: Full bodied with a creamy, almost oily mouthfeel. Black and, more prominently, white pepper are accompanied by a firm oakiness. Dark chocolate and espresso martini follow, with dried fruits lingering in the background.

Finish: Very long. Soft yet persistent spices linger, particularly white pepper and cinnamon, alongside mild oakiness. A gentle astringency develops towards the end, balanced by creamy vanilla and hints of citrus.

Comment: Delicate nose, rich spicy palate. 

Score 89/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas