Nordic Whisky #10 - Spirit of Hven Seven Stars No. 2 Merak

Spirit of Hven Seven Stars No. 2 Merak, NAS, 45 %

There is a steady stream of new Nordic whiskies coming to market these days. Just a few weeks ago Spirit of Hven released their whisky number 2 in the Seven Stars series; Merak. I have previously reviewed the first star (Dubhe).

This whisky takes it's name from the star Merak in the asterism Ursa Major (Big Dipper, the Plough). It has been matured in a mix of American, French and Spanish oak. A total of 25 casks were blended together to create Merak.

You can purchase the Spirit of Hven Seven Stars No. 2 Merak at Systembolaget in Sweden at SEK 795 for a 50 cl bottle (item number 20274).

Nose (22/25): Quite rich and creamy on the nose. Light spices and a thin veil of smoke. Citrus, lemon peel, malt, honey and oranges. It is a fresh whisky, revealing it's youth, but there are no off notes here.

Taste (21/25): A light touch of smoke and licorice is the first to hit my palate. Then I detect creamy caramel, simple syrup, malt, and vanilla.

Finish (21/25): Medium long, cool rather than warming, and a bit more spicy towards the end.

Balance (22/25): Compared to the Dubhe, I find Merak to be a slightly more rich and creamy, where Dubhe was more fresh. From what I understand, Merak is slightly older - at around 5+ years.

Score (86/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas