On the island of Hven located in the strait of Öresund between Denmark and Sweden lies the Spirit of Hven Distillery.
Founded in 2008, this family owned distillery became the third pot still distillery ever to be built in Sweden and is one of the world’s smallest commercial pot distilleries.
Although Hven only covers an area of 3 square miles and has a population of around 350 inhabitants; from this remarkable island comes some of the highest quality handcrafted spirits produced.
Alkaid is number 7 and the last in the Spirit of Hven “Seven Stars” series. It binds up the quintessence from the former editions by embracing parts of what’s been unique in every star. There are notes of American and European oak, aromas of elegant wines as Margaux and Sherry as well as a soft hint of smoke.
The whisky is well balanced and the most matured in the series. It has a soft smokiness balanced by long maturation on air-dried wood with heavy toast and heavy char.
This whisky has, as its predecessors, got its name from one of the stars in Ursa Major. The seventh and most easterly light point in the asterism is Akaid also known as Benetnash.
Production process: The recipe for Alkaid is the most complex and powerful of the stars in the series. It is slightly smokier than its predecessors, this is balanced by a substantially longer maturation on air-dried oak. The nine casks in the blend are made from 12.35% lager malt, 9.5% chocolate/ale malt and 78.1% peat smoked malted barley. The cask balance is: one cask of Petraea oak from Allier that previously held chateau Margaux; one cask made of Faginea oak from Portugal that previously held Olorosso sherry; five casks made of Muehlenbergii oak from Missouri that used to mature Hven Vodka; and two casks of Burgundy Robur oak that used to mature wine from Maculan.
Alkaid is certified organic and bottled at 45% abv, without colour or other additives, no carbon or chill filtering. All bottles are individually numbered and waxed by hand.
Tasting Notes: Aromas of liquorice and raisins, followed by rich scents of dark chocolate and coffee. There are soft notes of smoke, almonds and violets. Malty notes are pronounced and balanced by a fresh aroma of ripe apples. The taste is elegant and soft even at 45% abv. Acidity and tannins are well balanced, and the whisky is perceived mature. The oak contributes delicate esters and astringency followed by an enticing sweetness from wood sugars and lactones.
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