Recently I got in touch with Raf Rombouts who recently started importing the Swedish Smögen whisky to Belgium. He wanted to know my opinion about two recent expressions (my other Smögen reviews are here). Both are slightly deviant from the standard (Scotch) practices.
We start with a new Smögen 13 Year Old which is a single pot still whisky, so there’s 50% unmalted barley in the mix. Bottled at 100° Proof. Then we have Askeim 8 Years which is a triple distilled spirit from Golden Promise barley.
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Smögen 13 yo – Single Pot Still (51,7%, OB 2026, ex-bourbon casks)
Nose: a great combination of mild yet deep and earthy smoke, some refreshing pine notes and balanced sweetness. Vanilla marshmallow and a touch of roasted pineapple. Almond cream. Then back to warming oak char and campfire ashes, a little black pepper and fresh lemons.
Mouth: really oily and thick. There’s more of this glorious campfire, with lots of sooty notes (oldtimer exhaust) and charred lemon. Additionally we pick up sea salt, some dark chocolate, pine wood and a nice bittersweet note. Then there’s black pepper with firm spices, probably from the unmalted barley. Bright herbal top notes and a little apple too.
Finish: very long and powerful, with a hint of chilli, mint and black tea, along with liquorice and barbecue ashes.
This really packs a punch, with a very rich peatiness and just enough sweetness and brightness to keep the balance. Absolutely precise, just spot-on whisky. We’re big fans of this style.
Smögen Askeim 8 yo 2017 (57,2%, OB 2025, Batch #2, second-fill Oloroso sherry octave)
Nose: caramel notes, hints of figs and dark bread. Some sweet and sour berries underneath, along with apples and marmalade. Then the malty sweetness increases, but also a sharper winey edge and subtle hints of Baba Ganoush. Smoked tea in the distance, but the peat is far less in-your-face here.
Mouth: more berry fruits but also a mild savoury side. Cocoa and caramel, with a lot of pepper to it. Lots of malty notes. Far more high-pitched than the 13 Years, with some pickled hints and salty notes. Later also cinnamon pastry, toasted oak and citrus peels.
Finish: medium to long, but still missing some bass. Mostly citrus zests, pepper and cinnamon.
Overall the smoke comes out less, and the spirit is more chisseled and floral, which makes it less unique in my opinion. The sherry is slightly winey / sharp as well. Not on the same height as the excellent 13 Year Old, but nice to see variety within the peated profile. Score: 86/100