Mackmyra Special 03 (Sweden) / 48.2% / 0.7l

Mackmyra, Sweden's first whisky distillery, is an investment by eight graduates of Stockholm's Royal Institute of Technology. The distillery uses two distillation formulas, one called "Elegant", the other "Smoke".

All ingredients except yeast are sourced from producers within a 75-mile radius of the facility, and the whisky is matured in an abandoned mine up to 50m below the surface. Mackmyra Special 03 Små fat, Stor smak (which translates to “small cask, lots of flavor”) is a blend of spirits aged exclusively in small, 30-liter casks (sherry, bourbon, and Swedish oak barrels). Mackmyra Special 03 was launched in July 2009, on the distillery’s tenth anniversary.

Aroma: fresh barley malt, green apples, pears, grapes, honey, vanilla, milk chocolate, nut shells and a hint of fresh herbs.

Taste : mild, apples, pears, grilled zucchini, barley malt, vanilla, toffee, roasted nuts, a bit of pepper and ginger and a light mineral note.

Finish : medium long, with notes of malt, roasted nuts, vanilla, pepper and oak tannins.