Hardenberg Club Straight Rye Whiskey / 42.5% / 0.7l

Hardeberg Spirits is a family-owned distillery based in Lower Saxony, one of the oldest German producers of alcoholic beverages.

It was founded around 1700 as Gräflich von Hardenberg'sche Kornbrennerei and for many years specialised in the production of schnapps, fruit brandies and liqueurs. Recently, it has added two whiskeys to its offer, Straight Wheat and Straight Rye. The latter is distilled from a mash consisting of 95% rye and 5% malted wheat (most of the grain comes from the family farm). The whiskey is aged in American oak barrels and finished in so-called Cooper barrels (hybrid barrels made of American and French oak) and German Napoleon oak barrels. The company does not disclose the length of maturation, but according to the regulations it cannot be shorter than three years.

Aroma : strong notes of rye and pine resin, forest floor, dried dill, white pepper, vanilla, traces of citrus and coconut flakes.

Taste: slightly alcoholic, wholemeal, pepper, a bit of ginger, a mixture of dried herbs, vanilla, pine needles and a slight bitterness of oak.

Finish : medium long, spicy, with notes of rye bread, pepper, allspice, a touch of mint, oak and a subtle fruity sweetness.