Tasting notes·Hercynian Distilling Co. / Hammerschmiede
Elsburn The Journey (2021)
The Hercynian single malt whisky comes from the Hammerschmiede in the German Harz Mountains. The Journey stands for the journey of the whisky through a number of cask types.Home is where the Harz is writes the distillery on the back of the outer packaging. If you do a little research on the website, you quickly get the feeling that a lot of love goes into the work there. For example, the distillery does not want to join the Association of German Whisky Distillers because they consider themselves mavericks and the whisky comes first. Somehow likeable. Hammerschmiede has been producing single malt whisky since 2002, making it one of the oldest whisky distilleries in mainland Europe. In the meantime, the range includes a not negligible selection of good to very good Whiskys. Elsburn The Journey is often named as a deputy classic and entry into the Harz whisky world.
The panel
Mean 81.0 · spread 0
Value for money 4/5
- Distillery
- Hercynian Distilling Co. / Hammerschmiede
- Type
- Single Malt
- Country
- Germany
- Strength
- 43% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
The initial oak quickly fades and makes way for fruity notes of cranberries, dried fruits and plums. In the meantime, we catch a glimpse of coffee. Every now and then, we have a smell of forest in the morning dew in our nostrils.
Palate
The sweet sherry flavours are accompanied by unexpected light smoke. We perceive a little oak, but more cherry sweets, dried fruit and sweetened condensed milk. Very balanced.
Finish
Smoke and oak linger in the back and turn into a bitter-sweet short finish.
Verdicts
Marcel
A whisky that’s simply a joy with its multifaceted cask journey and a hint of smoke – here, character meets drinkability. The sweet and fruity notes deliver a genuine taste experience that leaves you wanting more. For a German single malt, this is a real bullseye with excellent value for money!
Sascha
The complex combination of casks gives Elsburn The Journey a remarkable balance between sweet sherry aromas and subtle smoke, which shapes its structure. Despite its complexity, the whisky feels overall harmonious and well-balanced, with the relatively short finish costing just a few points. A technically accomplished example of German single malt with solid character.
What it is worth
No auction record for this distillery, so we cannot tell you what this bottle is worth. We would rather say that than guess.