Stauning Smoke Distillery Edition Calvados Cask
Visiting a distillery usually means taking at least one exclusive bottling from the distillery with you or - if possible - a hand-filled bottle, i.e. a self-filled bottle from a specially designated single cask. The Stauning distillery offers several Distillery Exclusives. We took a look at the ‘Barley’ and the ‘Smoke’.
The panel
Mean 70.5 · spread 3
Value for money 2/5
- Distillery
- Stauning
- Country
- Denmark
- Age
- 3 years
- Strength
- 62.2% ABV
- Character
- delicate
Tasting
Nose
From the first whiff, it is clear that this whisky has a powerful personality. Sweet campfire smoke dominates the flavour profile and creates an intense, warm atmosphere. Behind this are notes of green, sour apple, which are intensified by the post-maturing in Calvados casks. There is a slight hint of grain, paired with a subtle note of vanilla. The youth clearly shines through here from time to time.
Palate
The smoky character continues seamlessly in the flavour. The first impression is characterised by dense smoke that envelops the tongue. However, the high abv of 62.2% quickly makes itself felt and provides a certain sharpness, which is due to the young age of the whisky. After this powerful start, the sour green apples come back into play, accompanied by a surprisingly salty undertone and a hint of citrus fruits that bring freshness and vibrancy to the flavour experience. The Calvados influence is clearly noticeable here.
Finish
The finish is surprisingly short for a peated whisky. While the smoke remains dominant, the citrus and apple flavours fade quickly without any noticeable oak notes.
Verdicts
Marcel
Stauning Smoke Distillery Edition Calvados Cask is a smoky adventure with fruity apple notes that will especially delight fans of robust firewood character. Despite its youthful freshness and intense smokiness, I personally find it lacks the depth to make it a long-term favorite – but as a spontaneous treat, it’s definitely an exciting experience.
Sascha
The Stauning Smoke Calvados Cask clearly showcases the dominance of smoke, contrasted by the fresh, tart apple notes from the Calvados cask. The balance between smoke and fruitiness is intriguing, yet the complexity remains limited, and the short finish diminishes the structural persistence of this young, high-proof whisky.
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.