High Coast Founders' Reserve
High Coast Founders' Reserve, 11 YO, 50.3 %
This is the first ever 11 YO released by High Coast Distillery, Sweden. Matured in ex-bourbon and virgin American oak casks, and limited to 2009 bottles (50 cl).
Composition peated / unpeated:
76,7 % unpeated whisky matured in ex-bourbon barrels (200 litre) and virgin American oak casks (230 litre)
23,3 % peated whisky matured in ex-bourbon barrels (200 litre)
Composition ex-bourbon / virgin oak:
54,1% matured in ex-bourbon
45,9% matured in virgin oak
The High Coast Founders' Reserve is available in Sweden at SEK 1095.
Nose: A bit shy on the nose. Warm, with notes of hot chocolate, rich caramel sauce and creamy vanilla. Baked apples and a whiff of toasted oak. With time some wood smoke in the background. With further time also wonderful notes of gingerbread, cinnamon and demerara sugar.
Taste: Rich and way more smoky on the palate than the nose let on. Dark notes of soot, chocolate and coffee beans. Behind this dark veil there’s still the sweeter notes of ripe apples and a fine drizzle of floral honey. Cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish: Medium long finish. Lighter and more sugary sweetness now. It remains dry and a smoky with notes of soot and ashes. Green notes of cut grass in the end.
Comment: Not quite sure what I thought at first, but it does open up very nicely. Not the best from High Coast by any means, but it is rock solid and true to their distillery style.
Score 87/100
This is Nordic whisky review #346 here on Whisky Saga. See them all here.
Sláinte!
-Thomas
