Stauning Bastard - Rye Whiskey Mezcal Finish

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

After maturing in new, toasted American oak, Stauning Bastard is finished in former mezcal casks from Mexico’s Oro de Oaxaca. At least three years in the new oak casks are followed by at least six months in the mezcal casks. This combination brings tobacco and spice notes together with sweetness and light smokiness.

Bastard is the second release in the Research Series, Stauning’s range of experimental bottlings. It is made from locally harvested rye and barley, which are floor-malted at the distillery. The whisky is then distilled twice in small, direct-fired stills. The bottle illustration was created by tattoo artist Thit Hansgaard. The whisky is bottled at 46.3%, without chill filtration or added colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, sweet pipe tobacco smoke and raisins mingle with oat biscuits, citrus notes and oak.
• Palate: On the palate, tobacco, vanilla and barley combine with dried fruit. Cinnamon, brown sugar and molasses complement notes of buttery pastries and oak.
• Finish: The long, sweet finish leaves lingering notes of brown sugar, pepper and salt, with light smokiness.

Distillery/Bottler:

Stauning began in 2005 on Denmark’s west coast as a project involving nine friends. They started with two small stills in a former butcher’s shop, malting the grain on the tiled floor of the cold room. These improvised beginnings developed into an approach that remained intact as the distillery grew: locally sourced grain, in-house floor malting and small, direct-fired stills.

The distillery opened in 2018 continues this approach with modern, purpose-built technology. During the soaking and floor germination of the grain, a machine built together with a local blacksmith turns and moistens it. Fermentation lasts four days. Rather than switching to larger stills when expanding, Stauning retained their shape and size and increased their number to 24. Double distillation takes place first in a wash still and then in a spirit still.

Facts: