Mackmyra 11 Year (2007) Cadenhead’s

World Whisky Review #55: Mackmyra 11 Year (2007) Cadenhead’s

Distillery: Mackmyra.

Bottler: Cadenhead’s.

Region: Sweden.

Age: 11 year. Distilled in 2007 and bottled in November of 2019.

ABV: 48.2%.

Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon.

Color: 0.6, Old Gold.

This is the 9th installment of this years’ Christmas Countdown. You can check out previous editions as well (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).

This whisky was reviewed blind courtesy of /u/dustbunna as part of a Twelve Fourteen Days of Christmas set. The note on this dram was “II (Two) Turtledoves”.

Nose: The first thought that came to mind was of chocolate but immediately afterwards, I’m taken to Welch’s concord grape juice and nothing else seems to show up. It really felt like I had a glass of that super syrupy, dark purple juice in my hands instead of this whisky.

Palate: Needs some water, otherwise it is a bit too prickly for my tastes. Grapes are the first note that I get, though it is more of a white grape than the dark purple ones in the nose. A bit of fig also comes to mind. A pine needle tea note also shows up, /u/dustbunna

described it as “forest-y” and I can totally see that. Some malted milk biscuits wrap things up.

Finish: Short. The note of malted milk biscuit continues here.

Guess: Scotland. Malt. Lowland. 55-60% ABV. 14-16 years old. I’m going to guess Daftmill as the distillery.

Reveal: Mackmyra 11 Year (2007) Cadenhead’s.

Conclusion: Oh boy was I ever wrong with this one! With how light in color it was, light and delicate in flavor, I was completely convinced this was a Lowland whisky. The pine needle tea should have really tipped me off to think about some other options though in hindsight. I’ve enjoyed every Mackmyra that I’ve had for how unique of a flavor profile it often delivers with forest-y notes and this one is more of the same. I’m still left wondering what would cause the nose to smell so strongly of Welch’s grape juice to me but overall it’s a really fun dram.

Rating: 80.

World Whisky Review #55, Swedish Whisky Review , Whisky Network Review #645

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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