2017-09-26 by Thomas Øhrbom (Whisky Saga)
The Nordic whisky of the week has a fun story behind it’s name. This is the Mackmyra Klas Rotspon Triple Wood, one of four ‘rotspon’ releases from Mackmyra that were bottled on June 29, 2016. Since June 29th 1900 was the date the Nobel Foundation was first established, Mackmyra decided to name these four releases after four Swedish recipients of the Nobel Peace Price.
This particular release, the ‘Klas’, was named after Klas Pontus Arnoldson (b. 1844-10-27, d. 1916-02-20), a journalist and politician. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1908, together with Fredrik Bajer, for his efforts in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict between Norway and Sweden. The conflict ended with Norway gaining independence from Sweden in 1905! In this day and age it is very hard to imagine there ever having been hostilities or even war between Norway and Sweden. Thank you, Klas!
The Mackmyra Klas Rotspon Triple Wood is based on the unpeated Elegant receipt from Mackmyra. It was initially matured for four years in 200 litre American oak casks, then transferred to Mackmyra Gravity casks (American oak staves, and Swedish oak cask ends) for a further 25 months of maturation. Then, finally, the liquid was moved to rotspon casks from von Have for a finish of unspecified length.
Rotspon casks are oak casks used in old German Hanseatic (Hansa) cities to mature imported French wine (in this case Bordeaux wine).
The total outturn for the Mackmyra Klas Rotspon Triple Wood was 383 bottles (50 cl).
Nose: Right off it is quite similar to the two years younger Mackmyra Rotspon Triple Wood, but this one feels just a tad richer in a way. Still lots of red berries, with a touch of damp cellar and wet leaves, mixed with vanilla and honey sweetness. Hints of something medicinal in the back. Faint notes of pine wood and licorice.
Taste: Medium body and slightly raw mouthfeel. Lots of pepper, and a mix of honey and red berries. I get rowan berries actually.
Finish: Medium long finish. The sweetness is cut short quite abruptly, and I’m left with an unusual taste of unsweetened aniseed and herbs with a slight bitter edge. Somewhat watery as well.
Comments: The nose is quite appealing. The palate is interesting and a bit weird, but not all in a good way.
Score: (81/100)
Link to original review on whiskysaga.com
For collectors of Mackmyra whisky
Rotspon Triple Wood Klas
Age | not disclosed |
Series | |
Bottled by | Mackmyra OB |
Bottling date | not disclosed |
Cask type | 200 liter American oak cask, then 30 liter Gravity cask, finish in Rotspon Barrique |
Bottle size | 50 cl |
ABV | 53.2 % |
Number of bottles | 383 |
Released for | Germany |
First sold | 2016-11-21 |
Article number | |
EAN barcode | 7350029669201 |
Added to database | 2016-12-21 |
Latest update | 2017-08-21 |
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Mackmyra Rotspon Triple Wood is based on the Elegant recipe, matured for 4 years in 200 liter American oak casks in Bodås mine, then matured for 6 months in 30 liter Gravity casks from American and Swedish oak. It gets its finish in Rotspon barriques from the von Have winery. The casks have been bottled as single cask under the names Alfred, Dag, Klas and Nathan. Faten har buteljerats som single cask under namnen "Alfred, Dag, Klas och Nathan. They have chosen to name them after Noble prize winners since the casks were filled on 29th of June 2016, the annual day of the Alfred Nobel Foundation. Klas Pontus Arnoldson (* October 27th, 1844 in Gotheburg, † February 20th, 1916 in Stockholm) was a Swedish journalist and politician. In 1908 he was awarded the Nobel peace prize for his efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict between Sweden and Norway. The entire series of the 2016 release of Mackmyra Rotspon was also released at Systembolaget 2016-12-09 with a "secret" article number. | |
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