Säntis Malt Edition Dreifaltigkeit

During a recent business trip to Switzerland, a colleague advised against wearing nice clothes to dinner that evening, predicting the pervasive smell of meat. She was right: preparing venison, beef, lamb, horse, and ostrich on individual hot stones evidently deters vegetarians from your closet. That restaurant experience came back to me once I opened the Swiss single malt I purchased at Zurich airport. The substantial portions of red meat that seemed to dominate every menu I encountered last week have been transformed into this whisky through seasoning and smoking. Bold, smoky beef flavors define the palate here, as satisfying as a lean cut of meat sizzling on a rock. However, this whisky offers more than just grilled game. Notes of caramel and cherry cola are present, along with a peculiar but intriguing aroma of white emulsion paint on the nose. This takes some adjustment, as initially it bears little resemblance to the palate and, as mentioned, paint is the first thought, not typically considered a desirable whisky characteristic. Over time, it evolves into herbal lozenges (Ricola, naturally) and maraschino cherries, and is ultimately overshadowed by the aromas of gravy that seem to fill the room after pouring a glass. The oily caramel finish is also exceptionally long, reminiscent of an Alpine ski slope. This is a distinctive and delicious whisky that I anticipate will be consumed quickly. I will need to moderate my eagerness to pour it, just in case I get some on my clothes. While the sweatshirt I wore to the restaurant no longer carries the scent, a few drops of Santis on my trousers might attract a pack of eager dogs.

The aroma presents a smoky campfire near pine trees, followed by heavily roasted game meats, then dates, pomegranates, and cooked pears, evolving into molasses, sassafras, and cardamom with a faint alcohol sting. The palate offers a moderate body, commencing with smooth, sweet tree fruits that swiftly shift to scorched asparagus and pine needles, then intensely roasted game meats, grilled mushrooms, and espresso, proceeding to dates, tangy strawberries, and baked pears, concluding with anise, sassafras, and cardamom, possessing a noticeable alcohol presence. The lingering finish is extended, featuring campfire smoke among pine trees, vanilla custard with a burnt sugar top, roasted game meats, grilled mushrooms, herbs, sassafras, and cardamom. This is a truly distinctive single malt, probably not to everybody's liking. The scent is defined by a campfire, supported by roasted game meats, sweet fruits, and spices, which carries through to the palate with the addition of grilled vegetables, before concluding with a lengthy smoky campfire, charred vegetables, and sweet sassafras that remains for an extended period after each taste. I was uncertain about my feelings regarding this spirit initially, but it grew on me, and by the time my glass was empty, I desired another serving to investigate further. This appears to be a divisive spirit due to the smoky and charred vegetable notes, but I encourage anyone to sample a dram if given the opportunity, as it's bound to be unforgettable regardless of opinion. Much appreciation to a friend for the kind offering of this bottle; I highly doubt I would have experienced it otherwise.

This is one of three samples from my latest sampler from Flaviar. Santis is a Swiss brewery/distillery that uses very old oak beer barrels for aging a peated single malt whiskey. This sample is the Dreifaltigkeit Edition of their whiskey, which is dried with peat from a local moor. A quick look at winsearcher.com shows it is not available in the US. I have to say, this is a pretty incredible dram! According to the accompanying literature with the sample and the information I found online, this is an NAS single malt whiskey aged in oak beer barrels. It is bottled at a very respectable 52% ABV. In the glass, it is a gorgeous dark amber, almost mahogany color. Swirling creates a thick oily coating that produces nice thick legs. On the nose, the smoke is certainly noticeable but not overpowering. There is none of the Islay/Laphroaig "band-aid" smell. I detected fairly strong smoky oak with some sweet vanilla notes. After a while, I could detect smoked meat, dried fruits, and spices. A really great aroma. The smoke was moderate on the nose but really hits hard on the palate. The first impression in the mouth was of smoke and ash, with a slight malty sweetness. It has a slick, full mouthfeel. Considering this is over 50% ABV, the heat/burn was minimal, very smooth! But the finish is where this whiskey truly excels. It is long and smoky, with BBQ, smoked ham, and vanilla notes rounding it out. It just lingers forever, making you want to go back for more. Overall, this is one of the best whiskeys I've had. Solid 4.5/90.

A productive day getting the house ready this Sunday. Stripped and painted the wrought iron railings. Replaced rotten shed fascia and mowed the lawn. A quiet evening at home (I'm on my own this weekend), listening to some Beck. It's been a while since I reviewed a pour. I had a head cold last week. Needless to say, a pour is much anticipated. Found this small sample from a friend that must have been in my sample collection (was this with the SDT?). A crisp, clean aroma greets you from the amber-colored liquid. Hints of pine sap with spearmint dance. Dark honey, vanilla, charcoal, and pine wood are faint but detectable. That dark honey becomes richer over time. It evokes images of a cozy, snug Catskills home on a chilly, clear winter evening. The liquid is as light as air on the palate. Sweet maple syrup with a dash of white pepper and applewood smoked bacon; sweet, salty, and tasty. This finishes slightly warming, and the sweet maple syrup and slight salty, smokiness linger for a medium duration. The sample I had was a small one-ounce pour, and I do wish I had more. This is an easy, simply delicious dram that starts with an inviting bouquet, teases the palate with sweet, smoke, and salt, and fades like the winter sunset: warmly, quickly, and beautifully. [Tasted: 11/4/18][89/100]

A truly well-made whiskey! I just opened the bottle this evening, ready to share with friends and family over the Thanksgiving break. The aroma reminds me of my younger days during the northern Vermont winters. I used to have this hearty breakfast of pancakes with maple syrup and smoked bacon. I then spent the rest of my day doing moguls, ending the evening over a nice crackling fire and some dark ale. This smells just like that Vermont winter maple and bacon. The taste then does not disappoint. It's meaty, oily. Pungent grilled meats. The finish is long and lingering, almost a bittersweet finish. Like that cracking fire and dark ale. I especially love the color...it's a burnt reddish brown, like maple-glazed biscuits. Now...only if I still had the legs and stamina to do a full day of mogul skiing....but this glass of Swiss will have to do.

If you enjoy the company of eccentrics and unusual characters, Säntis Malt Dreifaltigkeit is a definite 'must try.' This heavily peated Swiss spirit, aged in old beer barrels, would likely deter anyone with a mild palate. The nose is overwhelmed by smoky, meaty, and rich aromas, ranging from bacon and BBQ sauce to kippers and burnt matches. On the palate, notes of hops, stout, and bitter herbs contend with the intense peat. Salmiak, cured ham, and a hint of soap define the strong aftertaste. It's a distinctive flavor explosion that will elicit either strong fondness or dislike. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]