Askeim (Smögen) 8 yo - Golden Promise

Volume: 0.5 liters | Alcohol content: 57.7% | Not chill-filtered | No coloring

DescriptionSmögen is the epitome of a micro distillery. The one-man-and-one-dog operation produces just 115 liters of peated raw spirit per production day. And it also grows its own grain.

The Smögen 12 yo is the first bottling to be distilled exclusively from the distillery's own barley. The house-grown barley gives a new perspective to the typical malty, earthy and intensely smoky character of Smögen.

Matured in three first fill bourbon barrels and two first fill sherry hogsheads, fans will discover a complex, significantly more mature Smögen whisky.

In the words of Serge Valentin (whiskyfun.com): “I find it one of, if not the most 'textured' malts of the moment.” In points: 90.

With Askeim 8 yo, Smögen is launching a new brand that focuses on long-lost flavors of old, classic barley varieties.

With the lower-yielding but stronger-tasting and more individual grain, Smögen puts taste and character above yield and production costs.

The first Askeim bottling is based on a lightly peated version of the Golden Promise barley variety, which was particularly dominant in the 1970s.

Today it is still used for full-bodied British-style ales, but has long since been replaced in the whisky industry by new and more productive varieties.

The result? It is full of flavour, viscous, with very malty and fruity notes, complemented by creamy fudge, ginger and toasted oak from the small first fill bourbon quarter casks in which the malt whisky matured. "I find this to be a great success," thought Serge Valentin and awarded the newcomer an impressive 90 points.