Mackmyra Svensk Rök

Svensk Rok means "Swedish smoke," so the Mackmyra distillery wasn't being very creative with the name of this single malt. This is a peated whisky where they experimented by adding juniper towards the end of the smoking process to introduce significant spice and floral notes to the already smoky malt. It has a natural color and is non-chill filtered, bottled at 46.1% ABV, and the 500ml bottle cost me $28. Not a bad price for a smaller bottle. It's pale yellow and leaves medium, oily streaks on the glass, still appearing somewhat watery overall. The aroma is quite medicinal with its smoky character initially. There's a faint, band-aid-like note reminiscent of Laphroaig that needs to fade before you can detect other subtle nuances like vanilla, juniper flower, honey, and a very subtle hint of brine. The taste was surprisingly heavy on charcoal and cigarette smoke. The peat was strictly mineral and dry. Any floral or sweet notes were overpowered by the cigarette flavor, which made this difficult for me to enjoy as I dislike that smell. The texture was also rough and abrasive, suggesting the whisky is quite young. The finish came across as wet cigarettes that linger on and on (which I didn't let last long; I had to chase it with water after 15-20 seconds). Medicinal notes and minerals left everything dry, and I couldn't wait to follow it with a sweeter, sherry-aged malt. Overall, this did not suit my palate at all. I've encountered tobacco flavors in many whiskies before, and while I wouldn't describe it as particularly enjoyable in my opinion, I've learned to appreciate its contribution to most richer tasting whiskies. However, this cigarette note is entirely different. I simply do not like it. Thankfully, it was a small bottle, and after I poured a long-term sample (which I'll never knowingly drink again, haha) and a few more for potential trades, there wasn't much left, so I finished the rest of the bottle quickly. I won't be buying this again, but I'm still interested in trying more from Mackmyra, though I think I'll stick to unpeated varieties going forward. This one gets 1.5-2 stars from me. Cheers.

Nose: Pears and vanilla, very reminiscent of Mackmyra. There's also peat/smoke, but it's a very herbal and forest-like, fresh yet earthy peat (imagine a men's cologne like Tom Ford Grey Vetiver). A slight hint of (pickled?) cucumber too (!). The nose is more intriguing than delicious. Palate: Very refined, yet packed with flavor. More pear and vanilla, but balanced by the light herbal peat, still retaining its fruity freshness. The peat is more campfire-like than on the nose, evoking a misty autumn morning in the woods, waking up to a nearly extinguished campfire and rekindling it with slightly damp branches, causing smoke to rise high (though the peat is still light). Finish: This whisky continues to improve. The pleasant herbal peat remains, infused with just hints of apples and pears. After a while, light chocolate can be detected. Overall: The nose didn't wow me, but the palate and especially the finish were excellent. Mackmyra's spirit has a fruity, cereal, almost yeasty quality that's lovely but very subtle. This interpretation maintains that subtlety while adding an extra layer of flavor. Overall, I rate it a very solid 3.75 (meaning really good, just not quite in the 'great' category).

Non-traditional world whiskies are gaining popularity, and Sweden's Mackmyra is a leader in this area. Interestingly, Svensk Rök uses both local peat and juniper twigs to dry the barley. The aroma is characterized by bonfire ashes, dried herbs, and various green fruits, almost reminding me of a young Caol Ila. The taste arrives dry and pungent, developing with aromatic peat smoke, wood sap, and fruity sweetness before a long, briny finish. More ash, smoked ham, and spices follow. This malt is definitely worth trying! RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

I wasn't expecting much after trying Mackmyra Bruk, but this was astonishing – delicious, delightful, with a bittersweet profile combining vinaigrette, balsamic vinegar, tough toffee, arugula, dried herbs, bittersweet pineapple, malty sweet creaminess, and pepper. The juniper twigs, of course, evoke Swedish cuisine and the juniper berries found in gin. The finish is long, refined, and complex. A truly remarkable and uniquely tasty whisky! (Forget Mackmyra BrukWhisky and try this) EDIT: I now own it and can detect wine, cider, walnuts, and pecans!

Nose: Neutral with oak and grain. Palate: Inoffensive oak and decent smoke, but no distinct flavors. Verdict: Okay, but nothing remarkable. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!Bonus review of VINTERÖK! Nose: Smoked salmon and oregano Taste: very sharp pine resin smoke that settles down after a bit and transitions to a deeper malty taste. Verdict: Too harsh and fishy, apologies to Sweden. 2/5

Aroma: Sweet peat with an earthy and herbal quality. Taste: The sweet, earthy essence from the aroma is even more pronounced on the palate, with added sweet vanilla and zesty citrus. Finish: The finish is dry, smoky, and ashy, with salt, licorice, and herbs lingering in the medium-length aftertaste. This resembles a slightly more vanilla-forward, young Talisker. I find that quite appealing!