The Vikings 11 Year Old 2007

We have arrived at the fourth and final release in MMM’s – Mark & Manny’s Malt – Tribe Series. Tradition dictated that Manny and I search for a smoky whisky and this year is no exception, but contrary to what you might expect we did not go for an Islay or Island whisky. No, we discovered this extraordinary cask… in the Highlands. Nice anecdote: the label – with again a wonderful piece of art by our friend Jurgen Robyns – was actually the first he designed. So we had to keep this locked away for a full year as it fits our final whisky perfectly. Anyway, let’s get to it.

The nose is a fantasctic kaleidoscope of scents. Freshly baked grain cookies smothered in orange marmelade, sprinkled with light brown sugar and wrapped in a smoky jacked. Some candied lemon and a hint of peach arrives with a slice of bacon. A touch farmy, but mostly sweet and smoky.

Nicely oily and mouth coating, sweet and wonderfully peated. Caramel, apples and oranges, cookies and peach. The smoke development is grand and keeps the mouth nicely warm. I get some meringue and ever a sour note, before the spices take over. Lots of pepper and wood shavings. But again it is mostly sweet and smoky. A lovely combo.

The finish is long, warm, peppery and sweet and makes you long for a second dram.

We are very happy that we can conclude our Tribe Series with such a lovely single cask. It was a year that will be hard to trump, but the hunt for new casks for our fifth year has already started. MMM will be back in 2020!