Just Landed: Smögen Primör Revisited

We have just received a shipment from Smögen which includes the new Smögen Primör Revisited.

Established in 2010, Smögen bottled their first whisky, Smögen Primör in 2013, from a series of quarter casks. Those heavily roasted French Oak casks were refilled with Smögen’s trademark heavily peated spirit, and have now, after six years maturation, been bottled as Primör Revisited at cask strength of 68.2%. This is a big powerful whisky with peat that is earthy on the nose, but on the taste is peppery as it dances on your tongue. 

For independent reviews check out Malt Review, and in Swedish, check out En Liten Whiskyblogg and Tjeders Whisky. Look for Smögen Primör Revisited at Hedonism Wines, Gauntleys of Nottingham, Master of Malt, Nickolls and Perks, Shop4Whisky and The Whisky Exchange. 

Cheers!

Smögen Primör Revisted 68.2% Vol. 

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

Introducing Strane Ultra Uncut Gin 82.5% - the world's new strongest gin?

As readers of our blog will no doubt be aware, Strane Uncut at 76% previously held the record for the strongest commercially available gin. Uncut's high strength was not a deliberate attempt to create the strongest gin, more a consequence of Pär Caldenby's pursuit of flavour intensity by introducing a blending stage in the creation of Strane Merchant Strength 47.4% and Strane Navy Strength 57.1%. With Strane Uncut 76% you could say Pär took the concept of cask strength whisky to gin, i.e. if we don't add water there will be more flavour. As it was, when we launched Strane Uncut 76% we assumed someone somewhere would have a similar gin on the market of similar strength or higher, but as we spoke to gin bars and gin gurus it became clear that Strane Uncut 76% was a new concept and was certainly the strongest gin in Sweden and the UK, if not further afield. Unwittingly Pär had created a new category of gin. 

Having eventually claimed that Strane Uncut 76% to be the strongest available, it was inevitable that someone at some point would try to create a stronger gin, and thus after three years we saw three contenders at the start of this year unseat Strane Uncut 76% from the strongest gin podium. 

Whilst Pär never set out to create the strongest gin, nor start a strength race, having been challenged, he could not resist responding, which leads us to our new release: Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5%. This is a deliberate attempt to push the boundaries of gin distilling to the extreme, as far as intensity of flavour and strength goes, using a traditional copper pot still. With Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5%, Pär has tweaked the production process to take the intensity and strength to a new level. This was done with a much stronger charge of the still than usual and also by doubling the volume of botanicals, to maximise flavour. 

Given the high strength Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5% is only to be enjoyed in the smallest of measures, hence it will only be available in 200ml bottles. Exercising due care, it can be savoured neat, ideally chilled, in very small sips (with a glass of water on the side). This delivers an intensive juniper-led flavour impact, with great complexity from the other botanicals, including coriander seeds, almonds, liquorice root, lime and fresh herbs. In Pär’s words, 'This leaves the palate clean as a whistle'. For a longer serve do try one part Ultra Uncut 82.5% to two parts of Fentiman's tonic water, on plenty of large ice cubes. Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5% also makes an interesting base for creating your own cocktails, fruit liqueurs and infusions. Commenting on the new release Pär said 'Strongest gin or not, we believe gin enthusiasts will enjoy and cherish the incredible intensity of flavour that our Strane Ultra Uncut delivers'. Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5% certainly gives a new meaning to flavour-led. 

For the first chance to try, I will present a Strane masterclass, to include Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5%, at the Just Gin Show on the 28th of July 2018. Amongst others Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5% is now available from Nickolls & Perks and Master of Malt with an RRP of £33.00 per 200ml. 

Strane Ultra Uncut Gin 82.5%

Just landed: Smögen Barrique!

At 7 Years Old, Smögen Barrique is the oldest Smögen Svensk Single Malt Whisky release to date. Distilled from heavily peated Optic barley in 2010 and matured in four 225 litre French Oak barriques, which have given 1685 500ml bottles at 60.3% Vol. 

Described by distiller/proprietor Pär Caldenby as ’This is a Big whisky. From the intensity of our malty and peaty distillate, to a full-on cask influence from four classical barriques that previously held a Bordeaux red wine, with toasted oak, ground coffee, dark cocoa, mulled berries and apricots. Not for the faint hearted - just as should be!’. 

For some reviews please see Samuel Whisky, The Ladies Share and Whisky Saga. 

Initially released in Sweden on the 1st of March it will soon be available from Hedonism Wines, Master of Malt, Nickolls & Perks, Shop4Whisky and The Whisky Exchange.  

Smögen Barrique!

Strane congratulates Twin Rivers

News has reached us over the weekend of the release Twin Rivers Naked Uncut Gin, bottled at 77%. Whilst I am yet to try this new gin, I congratulate Twin Rivers on the launch, and concede that Strane Uncut London Dry Gin 76% is no longer the strongest gin on the UK market.

Strane Uncut London Dry Gin was first bottled back in 2014, and came about as a consequence of the unusual way Strane is produced, not a deliberate attempt to try to produce the strongest gin. Looking to preserve the intensity of the flavours in gin distillation, Pär Caldenby, distiller/ proprietor of the Smögen Distillery, developed a methodology in which three base gins; citrus, herbal, and juniper are distilled with the same 12 botanicals but in different ratios. The bases are then blended before the addition of water to create Strane Merchant Strength London Dry Gin 47.4% and Strane Navy Strength London Dry Gin 57.1%. As Pär Caldenby blends the base gins straight from the still, he became accustomed to sampling Strane ‘uncut’, and decided to create an ‘Uncut’ addition to the Strane family. For Pär, ‘Uncut’ refers not just to the consequential high strength, but also to the intensity of flavour.

We first imported Strane Uncut London Dry Gin, at that time 75.3%, to the UK in the spring of 2015. Initially we were careful not to claim that it was the strongest gin, but as we received feedback from gin journalists and gin bars, it became clear that the next strongest gin in the UK market at the time was less than 70% vol.. 

It was always inevitable that at some point Strane Uncut would be knocked off the ‘strongest gin’ podium. We are simultaneously flattered that Strane Uncut has been copied, and surprised that with the current interest in gin, that Strane Uncut was the strongest gin available in the UK for so long, for three years from 2015 to 2018. 

Strongest gin or not, Strane Uncut 76% remains the original Uncut gin, and delivers a wonderfully powerful juniper burst, which we believe gin enthusiasts will continue to enjoy. 
Robert Ransom, UK Importer. 

The Strane Gin family

Just Landed: Smögen 6/6 Svensk Single Malt Whisky

We've just received a small allocation of Smögen 6/6, a 6 Year Old Single Malt of 59.2 %, 50ppm, matured in two large barrels of new Swedish Oak. Named 6/6 as the casks were filled appropriately  on Sweden’s national day, the 6th of June, in 2011. 

It is powerful, heavy and mature with base notes of peated malt and toasted, spicy European oak, which make this a special experience. 

Swedish whisky, filled into Swedish Casks, on Sweden's national day, this, as you can image, has been a popular dram back in Sweden. 660 of the 840 bottles released in the Systembolaget in November sold out in seconds.

For an independent review (Tone is an unbiased Norwegian after all), head over to the Ladies Share. Available now from Master of Malt, amongst others. 

Cheers!

Smögen 6/6 Svensk Single Malt Whisky

Join us for a Dram - Whisky Festivals and tastings

Do come and join us for a dram!

Friday 8th July 2016
Sampling at The Storehouse, Foulis Ferry, Dingwall, from Noon to 4pm. Alongside Angels' Nectar we will also be sampling Strane London Dry Gin.
www.thestorehouseathome.com

Saturday 9th July 2016
Sampling at DeliMair, Aviemore, from Noon to 4pm. On taste will be the First Edition and Rich Peat Editions of Angels' Nectar.
www.delimairaviemore.co.uk

A visit to Smögen Whisky

After many years of eager anticipation, last week I had the opportunity to visit the Smögen distillery. I first met Pär Caldenby ten years or so ago, and I have followed his progress with interest.  We have been importing Smögen whisky to the UK since it first came of age, so it was a privilege to spend the day with Pär at his distillery.

Pär more or less designed the Smögen distillery himself and runs it single handedly. This makes for long days, and requires an ability to multi-task like a solo yachtsman. The mashtun and wash backs have been adapted from former dairy tanks. The whisky stills and spirit safe were built to order by Forsyths of Rothes, whilst the gin still and its copper worm tub came from Portugal. The compact layout relies on gravity; why bother with less reliable pumps?

The scale can at times seem small, at one point Pär explained that the next job was to clean the heat exchanger. I pictured something the size of a washing machine, but the heat exchanger in question was more toaster size. That said, the compact size of Smögen is for me part of the charm. Many have dreamed of building their own distillery, and here Pär has proved it can be done, in a way which means he has managed to keep control of every aspect. This is distilling solo, with a single minded determination to produce spirit the way you want to do it. So far Pär, as the distiller proprietor, has distilled every single drop of Smögen and Strane personally. Not many distillery owners can say that!

Robert Ransom

Named after a nearby island, Smögen Whisky AB, is located on a small farm on the outskirts of Hunnebostrand, a couple of hours north of Gothenburg.  The main building houses, from the camera, tasting room, malt store and mill room, still house, bottling hall and maturation warehouse, all under one excise bond. 

Golden Promise malted barley, waiting to be milled. 

The mill, with peated barley. 

Mash tun, in the attic, so the wash backs and wash still can be fed by gravity. 

Cleaning the mash tun. The orange draff shoot is actually a plastic apex for a roof, purchased from the local builders merchant. 

Where the magic happens, wash still back left, spirit still back right, with the Strane gin still and copper worm tub in the foreground. See how the spirit receiver tank is directly below the spirit safe, and the cask filling area directly below the receiver tank. Gravity is more reliable than pumps.  

Filling the morning's production, 106 litres of Smögen råsprit, or new make spirit, into a quarter cask made by the Swedish cooper from former bourbon barrels. 

Rolling the results of the mornings labours to the warehouse. 

Smögen Whisky staff photo - Pär Caldenby and Dante the distillery hound. 

Smögen's warehouse.

The weeks production. 

Sherry casks

Smögen Jubilee, distilled from 50ppm optic barley, matured in sherry quarter casks, and long since sold out!

Smögen Svensk Single Malt Whisky and Strane London Dry Gin arrive in the UK

Smögen Primör, the first chance to taste single malt whisky from Sweden’s Smögen distillery, and Strane London Dry Gin, also produced at the Smögen distillery, are now available in the UK.

The Smögen distillery was designed and built in 2010 by pioneering distiller Pär Caldenby, on the west coast of Sweden, north of Gothenburg. With a production capacity of just 35000 litres, the comparatively small size of the distillery allows for an attention to detail not seen elsewhere. Until now every drop of Smögen Whisky has been distilled and blended by Pär Caldenby personally.

Smögen Primör is produced from optic barley of 45ppm and distilled by hand in small batches in a 600 litre spirit pot still. The spirit has then been matured in a combination of new European oak casks and former Bordeaux casks. Smögen Primör is heavily peated, powerful and rich for its age, and is bottled at natural colour and cask strength of 63.7% vol.. Primör is the first chance to taste Smögen, and indicates that the distillery has a exciting future. In Pär’s words ‘When I set out to build a distillery I was aiming to take inspiration from the best that Scotland, France and Japan could offer and make a very distinctive malt whisky, in fully traditional pot stills. The decidedly coastal location and use of heavily peated malt alongside virgin or first fill casks means a fast maturing whisky. Our first bottling, Primör, shows part of our progress to date and I am quite delighted with the result’.

Released alongside Primör is Strane London Dry Gin, Smögen’s handcrafted small batch gin. Twelve botanicals are used to produce three base gin styles; juniper, citrus and herbal, in batches of 45 litres. The base gins are then blended to produce the three expressions; Merchant, Navy and Uncut. Strane Merchant, the core expression is bottled at 47.4% Vol., and is blended to emphasize the smoothness that the high copper contact in the tiny whisky pot still gives to the spirit, while also providing depth and strength of character. Strane Merchant’s flavour is led by juniper, coriander and mint. Strane Navy is bottled at 57.1% Vol., or “100 proof”, is powerful and blended to highlight citrusy notes. Strane Uncut, at 75.3% is one of the strongest gins on the market, and will only be available in very limited quantities. Explaining his approach to Gin creation, Pär said ‘As a whisky man, it struck me that the art of blending should work very well with gin, as a good gin is about character and also – most importantly – about balance. To create the massive depth of character while retaining balance, the tiny pot still with its worm tub is important, but the blending makes it whole. Eminently sippable and makes for an enticing G&T’.

Smögen Primör is available from The Green Welly Stop, Single Malts Direct and The Whisky Exchange, whilst Strane is available at The Good Spirits Co., The Green Welly Stop, and The Whisky Exchange.

Strane & Tonic with Brambles