It’s that time of the year already: the new seasonal release from Mackmyra. This “autumn” (yes, we’re still in summer right now but not for long), the famous Swedish single malt celebrates, and I quote: ‘autumn, berry foraging and the treasures to be found in the ancient Swedish woods’. So, what is really behind the pretty story? Something original again as we can always expect from Mackmyra. This time, part of the casks they used for the maturation held Swedish berry wine from the craft producer Grythyttan. To be more precise, Mackmyra used a berry wine called Jakt, a dry red wine made from wild blueberries and lingonberries. I have to admit I have absolutely no idea what taste it may have. As a French bloke, I’m quite more used to wine made from grapes, especially since we Frenchies are the best in the world at it (and if you disagree, it’s okay, you have the right to be wrong 😂). But enough with that, let’s go review this Mackmyra Jaktlycka.
Mackmyra Jaktlycka
Mackmyra Jaktlycka (I think this was the first time I wrote the name correctly without a single typo, hurrah!) has been matured in quite a complicated combination of casks. Dear reader, it’s time for you to get your Excel sheet out and grab some paracetamol! The casks used were: “Saturated” American and Swedish oak casks from 30 to 100 litres as well as “saturated” ex-bourbon casks from 30 to 100 litres too, new and first-fill American oak 128 litres casks and new and first fill Oloroso casks from 128 to 200 litres. If I understand correctly, the “saturated” casks mean that these were the casks that held the Jakt blueberries and lingonberries wine before. The whisky is bottled at 46.1%, unchill-filtered and uncoloured. You can find it for £59.90 on Mackmyra UK’s website, and at the time of writing, that’s about it, but expect to find it in your usual whisky shop soon.
Mackmyra sent me a 5cl sample of Jaktlycka for free but as usual, that doesn’t change a thing.
Colour
Deep gold
Nose
Very fruity initial nose merged with vanilla and honey. A delicious and juicy fruit salad with red grape, overripe plum, pear and peach, spiced with a bit of aniseed and ginger. More summer than autumn on the nose! Very sweet.
Palate
Good arrival, sweet and spicy, with a creamy mouthfeel. Ginger, prickly sugar sweets, pear caramel, milk chocolate and vanilla give out a rich and luscious palate. There’s also a bit of bitterness and spiciness from the wood, mostly the new oak I think, but it’s I think a bit too much overpowering. Red and dark berries but I wouldn’t be able to precisely tell you which ones. Caramel again and dried apricots.
Finish
Warm and medium in length, on caramel, stone fruits, milk chocolate, a bit of pepper and a lot of oak.
Comments
Delicious nose, and a palate that would have been great if it was not that oak forward. I guess that’s the risk when you use new oak and small casks. New oak gives out its spiciness and characteristics quite strongly since they have not been washed away but the previous content, and the small casks lead to more wood contact. For someone who likes woody whiskies, it will be a hit. For those who like a bit less oak, it’s still a good whisky, though a bit too woody. And for those who don’t like woody whiskies, they’ll have to pass on this one. It will be a shame because of all the other flavours and the delicious nose, though. As for me, I’m on the medium category: not too much, but I don’t mind a bit of oak. Regarding the berry wine influence though, nothing stood really to me but as I said, I’ve never tried this type of wine before. In the end, I think I liked Grönt Te a bit more, but Jaktlycka (and just so you know, I failed typing the name on the first try here) is still a fine good dram, so I’ll give it a…
Alea jakta est. Rating: 83/100
But don’t take our word for it…
Other friends reviewed this whisky too, so I strongly encourage you to go read or watch their review: Matt McKay over at The Dramble, or Nicky aka Mrs NDD on New Dram Drinker’s Youtube channel.
Good review 👍 Am with you on the woody element. Combined with the sweetness it was almost sap-like.