Hammerhead 1989 23 Year

This spirit has a fascinating history. The distillery began in 1929 as part of a large empire, focusing on local spirits and bitters. In the 1980s, under communist rule, they ventured into whiskey production, anticipating a market due to import restrictions. Despite efforts using historical methods, including a double distillation process and external wash sourcing, the results were unusual. Attempts to incorporate peated barley were unsuccessful in this dram. The fall of the Berlin Wall brought global competition, and this spirit struggles to compete, resembling a mild grain distillery output. Thousands of barrels remained until a new company acquired the distillery in 2007. The flavor profile is a weak vanilla-almond type with an odd aftertaste.

When I discuss spirits with others, I generally like to mention that understanding the history contributing to each bottle enhances the experience. The water, the wood, the peat, the grains – they all have a story before being combined to create the wonderful liquid we enjoy sharing. And that doesn't even account for the time they age together. This spirit has a rich history, not only being lost for years but also produced in a location that technically no longer exists. Who wouldn't want to share a glass? Made with Czech barley, Czech water, Czech Oak. Nothing else is quite like it. Smell is citrus and, could it be hops? Taste is spice and dark toffee. Finish has a little coffee and spice. I wish it was bottled at a higher alcohol content (only 40.7%). But the story more than compensates for that. An excellent bottle if you can locate one (I found mine while traveling through Prague).

The smell was acidic and harsh, with citrus and pepper. The taste, however, was not what I anticipated. While the aroma was sharp, the flavor was like vanilla cake. That's the best description I could come up with the moment it hit my tongue. I even went back to smell it again, and it's two distinct experiences. If you smell red wine, you anticipate tasting red wine, but if you smell this spirit, you'll get a completely different flavor. Additionally, it's an amazing value for its age. The difficulty lies in finding it outside of the Czech Republic. Another spirit shares the exact same background story and tastes a hundred times better.

A true masterpiece! This spirit has captivated me for over a year. Reviewing something so intricate is challenging. It presents as sweet, oily, and spicy, but the spice isn't like bourbon cask heat, nor is the oiliness like coastal notes. The spice and oiliness fluctuate; the spice is akin to popping chili, and the oiliness fades to a soft, watery texture before returning. The spices are what make this compelling, though I can't identify all the flavors. I highly recommend it!

What a story! I'm tasting whiskey made in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. It's very malty, smooth, and has a velvety texture. While not particularly complex, I was surprised by its smoothness and clean profile, primarily tasting of barley and oak. No spectacular elements here, but it's a very nice 'world' whiskey, and the narrative adds an extra star (costing 32 EUR).

84 Aroma: earthy, gentle vanilla, chocolate, generally softer 20 Taste: Woody, subtle pears, barrel, subtle vanilla and chocolate 21 Finish: Slightly warming finish, but otherwise vanilla and barrel linger nicely on the tongue 22 Body: Could be slightly more complex for 23y, but otherwise good balance 21