At first I thought the name El Clásico referred to the Spanish football classic (you know, Barça against Real). Now I understand it’s named after the classic cocktail that is the Manhattan. You see, Stauning El Clásico is a rye whisky aged in Spanish vermouth casks, inspired by the components of the famous recipe.
Stauning recently had to deal with a triple blow: Diageo pulled out of their operations, then the tariff war started, and then European whisky producers would be prohibited from using the term rye whisky. Of course it’s not the only young distillery facing problems, so their 25% workforce cut is probably just a first step.
Stauning El Clásico (45,7%, OB +/- 2024, virgin American oak + Spanish vermouth finish)
Nose: a dusty start. Bruised apples, hints of orange peels, but also crushed peppercorns and bread dough. A light alcoholic edge too. Then some hints of Licor de Hierbas or orujo, with plenty of dried herbs. Wermut and clove indeed, as well as walnut husks and dusty books.
Mouth: bittersweet. In fact, mostly bitter. A lot of clove extract, wood extract, cinnamon, anise and heavily steeped herbal tea. Some berry sweetness in the background. Then also caramelized nuts and heather. Coming close to a herbal schnapps after a while, with chestnuts, more library dust and wood shavings.
Finish: medium, with more herbal bitterness, plenty of aniseed and wood.
I understand the idea, but it’s doesn’t replace a good Manhattan and it’s not a successful whisky either. Then what is it? A weird experiment – the vermouth cask simply doesn’t work. Stauning may not be my favourite European distillery but I do hope they’ll manage to find a renewed breath. Available from The Whisky Exchange or Royal Mile Whiskies, among others.