Stauning – R.Y.E (70cl, 48%)

This is Stauning's rye malt whisky from Denmark, the first bottling the distillery released officially. It is made only from Danish rye and barley, all malted on the distillery floor, in a ratio that tends towards 60% rye and 40% barley and varies slightly from batch to batch. It is distilled twice in small, direct-fired copper stills, then matured for three to four years in new American white oak casks. It is bottled at 48% in a 70cl bottle, non-chill-filtered and without added colour. The nose has freshly baked rye bread, fruit gums and a touch of pepper. On the palate come soft dried fruit, ripe cherry and peppery oak, balanced by vanilla and citrus peel. The finish is peppery, long, soft, fruity and sweet.