The Swedish whisky under review today is the Mackmyra Vinterdröm (“winter dream”). This whisky, in the Season Series, was released 2016-12-02. Four different types of casks were used in maturation; ex-cognac, ex-bourbon, fresh American oak, and fresh Swedish oak. The rum casks were used for finishing.
Here is what Mackmyra themselves say about this whisky:
“The whisky is a collaboration with rum producer Plantation Rum and has a finish from casks that previously stored Barbados and Jamaican Rum. The result is a soft oaky whisky with notes of orange, vanilla and demerara sugar – a Carribbean love affair.”
On the Swedish whisky blog Whisky Tower I also found this info:
“The rum casks used for Vinterdröm are 10 350 litre 20 year old ex-cognac casks, that have held rum from Barbados for at least half of those 20 years.”
You can buy the Mackmyra Vinterdröm in Norway at NOK 799 (7157401), in Sweden at SEK 598 (4004001), and online in the UK at around GBP 70.
Nose: Cool and fruity is what springs to mind as I bring the glass to my nose for the first time. The rum and cognac casks make themselves known immediately, but they are well behaved. There’s whispers of dark spices, light fruits and demerara sugar. I actually have to give the distillery credit for having quite accurate tasting notes for this whisky; which is quite rare for any distillery – I’m sure you agree. After a couple of minutes the oranges appear, as advertised. I also find soft oakiness, cereal, cinnamon, vanilla, and Bounty bar. I must say this nose is really, really good. The added sweetness and fullness that we get from the rum and cognac casks really works well with the Mackmyra spirit.
Taste: Medium body with a fairly oily mouthfeel. Did someone add cream to this rum and cognac mix? Honey sweetness, apples, oranges, cinnamon, white pepper, demerara sugar, vanilla, cereal and soft oakiness.
Finish: Medium long finish. It tends towards dry fairly quickly. The creamy oiliness lasts, together with a tempered and sweet fruitiness.
Comments: Wow, probably the best whisky I have had from Mackmyra. Way to go!
