Just Landed: Smögen 8 Years Old and Kinghaven Rum

Three new releases from our Swedish friends at Smögen, their first ever eight years old single malt whisky, and two rums from their foray into the world of independent rum bottling. 

Smögen Swedish Single Malt Whisky - Aged 8 Years 57.8% Vol. 

From first fill Sauternes Barriques, filled in March 2011, bottled in April 2019, at cask strength of 57.8% Vol. A limited edition of 1628 bottles. Whilst the spirit was Smögen's traditional heavy peat, this has been softened by the maturation in sauternes casks. Serge has scored this bottling 90 points, so do look up his review on Whiskyfun. Amongst others try Hedonism Wines, Shop4Whisky and the Whisky Exchange. 

Kinghaven Premium Single Cask Rum

Single cask rums, finished in Swedish oak and independently bottled by Smögen Whisky.  As you would expect these are bottled at natural colour, unsweetened, cask strength and non-chill filtered.  

Kinghaven Diamond distillery 8 years old, Port Mourant wooden stills, Guyana, 61% Vol. 

Intriguingly distilled in wooden stills, this has been finished for nearly eight months in Swedish Oak Barriques, which has mellowed the Rum. 

Tasting notes by Kinghaven proprietor Pär Caldenby ‘Nose – crystallised raw sugar, fresh greenhouse aromas, baked mushrooms, sunwarm skin, slight diesel, nutmeg, clove; dense and powerful. Palate – immediate big and sweet arrival with notes of molasses, liquorice, basil leaves, milk chocolate, lemon zest and a long development that tilts over towards… Finish - …a drier and spicier, though still on sugar/molasses notes, finish with nutmeg, Garam Masala and on the death, warm polished oak. Overall – a big character with great balance and development, firmly based on the raw molasses notes that envelops the whole experience; best taken quite strong, though in small sips, to maximise the flavour sensations.'

Kinghaven Foursquare 13 years old, Pot & Column stills, Barbados, 63.4% Vol. 

Briefly finished in new Swedish oak. 'Swims extremely well' according to Serge in his review on Whiskyfun, in which the Kinghaven Foursquare 13 Years Old scored 89 point. For Kinghaven Rum try Master of Malt and Nickolls and Perks. 

All three have also been reviewed on the Good Dram Show by Chris from Gauntleys of Nottingham. 

Cheers!

Smögen Aged 8 Years, Kinghaven Diamond 8 Years Old and Kinghaven Foursquare 13 Years Old