Spirit of Hven is one of the world’s smallest distilleries, situated on a beautiful little island between Sweden and Denmark. Single malt whisky production is the focus but various hand crafted spirits are produced by Master Distiller Henric Molin, all of them organic and always aged in oak casks (sometimes for years prior to a final distillation) without carbon or chill filtration.
No 1 Dubhe Single Malt
Tasting Notes:
Undiluted, without water the scent is herbal with vibrant notes of rose hip, liquorice
and cut hay. Behind the subtle scents of the Orangery is a clear, albeit distinct,
smokiness with elements of tar and leather. The taste is full of ripe fruit with peppers,
the smoke is matched perfectly by the rich vanilla. The emphasis is in the middle of
the tongue, and it has a nice balance between tannins and oiliness.
Diluted, with water about 1: 5 the gentle notes from fermentation and oak maturation
dare show themselves. First impressions are roasted coffee, dark chocolate, leather
and almonds. After a few moments, the scents of old-fashioned root cellar, ripe
apples, saturated aged wood and weak phenols evolves together with sweet wine and
vanilla from maturation. The taste is sweet with some acidity. The aftertaste is slightly
shorter with water but in return, it will lure the scents of a blooming summer meadow,
with a slight note of leather in the horizon. Mouth feel is warm and soft without edges.
No 3 Phecda Single Malt
Tasting Notes:
Undiluted, the whisky has a clear note of leather and salty liquorice, behind the first
peppery note lingers a lovely scent of barbecue and open fireplace. When the scent
buds have tuned in on the high strength the nose is filled with dark chocolate, coffee
and vanilla. The scent is held together by sweetness reminiscent of old port wine.
The taste is potent with good balance between sweetness and bitterness. Medium long
aftertaste with an oily note, balanced well midst tongue. A slightly peppery finish.
Diluted, with water, the smoky notes are toned down a bit and transcends to mocca
and sweet liquorice, the sweet notes from the Missouri oak appears and lifts the vanilla
character being balanced by a soft note of coconut and fresh malted barley. Thoughts
go to a picnic on a wet summer meadow eating a dark bread roll with hazelnut cream.
The taste improves with a dash of water lifting the sweet notes and the oak vanilla. The
French Petraea oak becomes more apparent and contributes with notes of dry
aniseed, herbs and hints of pepperiness. The aftertaste is soft with notes of citrus and
red berries. The finish is medium long with a gentle smokiness balanced by vanilla.