Stauning Heather Distillery Edition (2017/2021)
While other countries are still debating whether they can distil whisky at all, the Danes are simply marching through and demanding premium prices for their Danish whiskies. And you know what? They have the courage to do it. At 47.80% vol. and without an age statement, this Danish whisky presents itself like a rebellious teenager: young, untamed and damn self-confident. Incidentally, the Heather Edition does not mean that heather has been thrown into the barrel here (although that would come as no surprise with the Danes), but that this whisky is intended to capture the rough, windswept landscape of Denmark in the glass.
The panel
Mean 81.0 · spread 2
Value for money 1/5
- Distillery
- Stauning
- Type
- Single Malt
- Country
- Denmark
- Strength
- 47.8% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
Smoke breaks through like a Viking kicking in the front door. But wait! This is no ordinary peat smoke, but an interesting herbal smoke reminiscent of mate tea. Yes, you read that right - this whisky smells like the quintessential hipster drink. Caramel and malt join in before a note of furniture polish grounds everything down again. Danish design - even the whisky smells of designer furniture.
Palate
Ice-cold, almost refreshing smoke lingers on the tongue - as if you were standing by the sea on a winter's morning and sipping from a campfire at the same time. It envelops the palate as voluminously as a Viking beard. Mate tea is back (the Danes must have an obsession), followed by cherries and burnt bread. Then comes the memory of a burnt campfire days ago - melancholic and somehow poetic. Baked apple provides cosiness, while the creamy texture holds everything together.
Finish
The long, smoky finish shows that serious work has been done here despite the lack of an age statement. Slightly dry with hints of spicy oak - exactly how you would imagine the end of a Danish whisky saga.
Verdicts
Marcel
This Stauning Heather is like a wild ride through the Danish coastal landscape – rough, untamed, and packed with plenty of character. For the price, you can afford to be a bit rebellious, even if it won’t win over everyone immediately. Still, if you’re craving an unusual peat smoke with a hint of hipster flair, this one will definitely make you happy.
Sascha
The Heather Edition from Stauning impresses with a well-balanced blend of smoky, herbal notes and a creamy texture that supports its complex structure. Despite lacking an age statement, it reveals a layered depth that at least justifies the premium price from a flavor perspective – although the value for money remains debatable.
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.