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By David Levine
Ranking: B+
(Credit score: David Levine)
It’s arduous to consider that Stauning Danish Whisky is nearly 20 years previous.
Based in 2005 by a gaggle of 9 mates, it got here on-line at roughly the identical time as the primary wave of the brand new craft motion within the US. In some ways, Stauning represents your entire Nordic/Scandinavian area and its new distilling scene. A whole bunch of distilleries adopted in Stauning’s wake. Flavors of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway (Iceland and Finland, too, relying on who you ask) are immediately in vogue because the curiosity within the area’s culinary merchandise and prowess booms all over the world.
For Stauning – and these northern European cultures – rye is a specialty. It’s a grain that grows in almost any soil, a key characteristic for Vikings and their descendants as they, too, unfold across the identified world. Barley and wheat may develop. Wanting being on a glacier, rye will develop. And so, when constructing their preliminary distillery and the attractive 24-still successor, Stauning made certain that rye could be a core providing.
American rye drinkers and drinkers of American rye will discover this fairly completely different from the rye profiles popping out of Indiana and different well-known rye distilling states. There’s no black pepper right here, no sharpness you’d anticipate in a 95/5 or a Monongahela, neither is it candy just like the barely-legal ryes of Maryland and Kentucky. As an alternative, it’s earthy, harking back to strolling by way of the very fields from which the rye is harvested. Whether or not by nature or design, Stauning’s rye feels and tastes nearer to the earth, a high quality I solely discover in choose American ryes additionally grown domestically to their respective distilleries.
I ought to observe, Stauning makes glorious single malt, however their showcasing of what rye from northern climes tastes like has set a regular. Their merchandise are additionally surprisingly simple to get, which not many Danish or Scandinavian spirits can say.
This specific rye is floor-malted on-site. I can’t say for certain what that does to the flavors, nevertheless it does point out a degree of take care of the grain that you would be able to solely declare while you’re the one turning the sprouts. Solely a dozen or so distilleries do that within the US, all craft, and the few that do it in Scotland are well-known for it (Balvenie, for instance). Ground-malting rye that’s grown “a motorcycle experience away from the distillery by two native farmers” permits Stauning to rightfully declare Danish terroir, Danish spirit, and Danish rye.
Stauning’s Ground-Malted Rye Whisky is the place I entered the world of Scandinavian whisky, and I’d argue it’s the most effective place to take action. The rye is unfamiliar however not sufficient to scare a more moderen drinker off, and extra skilled whiskyphiles will get pleasure from their horizons being expanded. I discover a robust through-line between their rye and barley spirits, so there’s a simple leap there, and from that time you’ll be able to herald different producers like. Spirit of Hven, Eimverk Distillery, and extra out-there flavors which might be extremely fascinating however may want a steppingstone to achieve.
The flip facet of this coin is that the rye is comparatively easy. It’s removed from one observe, to be clear; it simply feels extra like that entry level whisky, one which has sufficient taste to face by itself whereas being an important canvas for ending, further getting older, and mixing. It’s a simple purchase and one certain to inflame curiosity in Stauning and the bigger motion they helped begin.
The Whisky
Golden blossom honey within the glass, medium wavy rims and medium-sized droplets encircling. Mild and candy on the nostril, hay, farms, and fields with out the barnyard funk. Caramel apples heavy on the caramel, virtually toffee-like. Candied lemon zest and sugared grapefruit. Cel-Ray soda and recent lime juice.
Fruity and citrus-forward on the palate with an unfamiliar spice kicking the entrance of my tongue (I’ve been attempting for days to determine it, and it’s not one I’ve in my kitchen). The farm and haystack notes carry by way of from the nostril. Barely burnt grain, like a caramel roasted rye or malt in direction of the again, white grapes and gentle astringency, dried orange peel. Mouthfeel is silky and reasonably viscous, lighting up the entrance of my tongue once more earlier than settling all the way down to a lighter astringency within the corners of my mouth. The end reveals only a little bit of barnyard funk, like freshly mulched or fertilized fields, with a gorgeous fall taste reminiscence of fallen apples and tree fruits beginning to ferment on the bottom. Medium size, leans candy.
General: A dominant assertion of what Danish rye may be. Harking back to farms, fall, and grain, an unfamiliar spice including intrigue behind the extraordinary flavors. An amazing standard-bearer for what Scandinavian rye may be and a powerful canvas from which to construct. At 3+ years previous, a simple purchase for these seeking to develop their palates and check out one thing new.
The Worth
A bottle of this Danish rye ought to price you $68.99.
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