ABV |
45.7% |
LOCATION |
Skjern, Denmark |
TYPE |
Danish Rye Whisky |
MADE BY |
Alex Højrup Munch, Co-Founder |
COCKTAIL IDEAS |
Manhattan |
FLAVOUR CAMPS |
Sweet |
NOTES OF |
  
|
ABOUT ME |
In Jutland, on Denmark’s west coast, stands an imposing black metal and glass architectural marvel. This cathedral-like building, standing tall amid the surrounding flat fields, is Stauning, Denmark’s first purpose-built whisky distillery.
After humble begins making whisky on small fire-heated pot stills in an abandoned abattoir, Stauning upgraded to its new, multi-million pound home in 2018. While the exterior is designed to reflect traditional Danish architecture, its burnt timber panelling echoing fisherman’s huts, the interior and the methods Stauning uses to create its signature whisky are something else.
Stauning uses locally-grown rye and barley from within a few kilometres of the distillery to create a style of whisky that’s a reflection of its surroundings.
Fermentation is long and spread over four days to develop the spirit’s signature fruity aromas, while distillation occurs on 24 direct-fired squat, fat pot stills, more similar to those used to produce Cognac than Scotch. Heating the stills using fire rather than steam can generate caramelised flavours in the spirit, like chocolate, toffee and roasted nuts, as solids within the wash stick to the surface of the still and start to brown.
Stauning’s whisky is then usually matured in a mixture of ex-Bourbon and new American oak barrels, although the distillery sometimes uses a variety of experimental casks for its Research Series, such as mezcal, cognac and calvados.
One such experimental cask is Spanish vermouth, a bitter, herbaceous aperitif, which is used to mature the innovative El Clásico.
For this intriguing expression, Stauning takes its classic rye whisky, made using a mash of floor-malted rye and barley, and finishes it for several months in these Spanish vermouth casks.
The result is a whisky inspired by the classic Manhattan cocktail, a spirit filled with fruity notes of apples, oranges and cherries, with a herbaceous twist of spice and menthol. It finishes with caramelised hazelnuts and a warm, peppery spice.
This different style of whisky is perfect on its own, or served in the cocktail it’s inspired by – the Manhattan.
| Buy Bottle |
JOIN OUR LIVE TASTING WITH THE WHISKY MAKERS |
