Smögen 6 Year Old 100 Proof Sherry Quarter Casks

My very first Smögen! This Swedish distillery, founded in 2009, it was built in a farmstead near Hunnebostrand a little to the north of Göteborg. It is named after a nearby island and has only a capacity of 35.000 liters. My first encounter is with a 6 years old that matured on a sherry quarter cask and is bottled at 100 Proof, i.e. 57.1% ABV. Dark and sweet nose on dried fruit, caramel, roasted nuts and hazelnut paste. There is also a nice green and salty edge to it, making it stand out. Lots of woodsmoke, a drop of olive oil and black pepper. This holds the middle between a Speyside and Islay whisky… but Swedish, obviously. Nice mouth feel. Quite piquant from both the wood and the ABV. Dried ham, walnuts (lots of them), figs sprinkled with sea water (what?), woodsmoke and even some smoked salmon. There is a lot going on here. Salt & pepper, nutmeg, liquorice and lots of toasted oak. The finish is longer than the median Swede is tall and again offers both sweet and salty notes – working in harmony – to a perfect bitter end. Jag är väldigt imponerad! Great get-to-know-moment that makes me wanna chase down some more malts from this Swedish newcomer. But 100 EUR for only half a liter is somewhat off-putting.