The Spirit of Hven is a craft distillery located on the island of Ven, which lies in the Öresund strait between Denmark and Sweden. It is also a conference and hotel resort, replete with restaurant and pub. It is a remarkably small grain-to-glass distillery, which is why their releases are so often limited. The Spirit of Hven make a number of spirits but it is clear they are fans of single malt whisky. And astrology, as shown by their beaker-shaped bottles and copiously detailed product sheets. The Seven Stars is a series of single malts, each named after one of the stars in the Ursa Major (Latin for “Great Bear”) constellation, the third brightest modern constellation in the night sky. It is more familiarly known as the Big Dipper. One of the stars, Polaris, is also known as North Star. The fifth in the series is Alioth, which comes from the Arabic alyat al-hamal (“the sheep’s fat tail”), and is the brightest star in the constellation.
Distillery: Spirit of Hven
Region: Foreign
Age: NAS
Strength: 45%
Price: $82.57
Maturation: French white oak (Petraea and Robur), American chinquapin oak, Spanish oak
Mash: 8% Chocolate malt, 48% Peated malt and 44% Lager malt
Location: Ven, Sweden
Nose: Peat, banoffee pie, banana bread, toffee, argan, pecan
Palate: Smoke, toffee, caramelized banana, hickory, argan, pecan
Finish: Peat, chocolate, smoke
Comments: The nature of limited release mean finding any particular whisky – excepting perhaps their semi-standard Tycho’s Star – is a challenge, but it also means new expressions are constantly being produced. Worth taking the chance if presented with the opportunity. Don’t rush your experience with this one or any of these truly special drams. Let it linger in your glass. The changes in flavor and nose as it oxidizes is a journey worth taking… if you are fortunate enough to do so.
Adam – I’m surprised at how hot this hits the nose right off the bat considering the abv. That element only lasts for a moment, though, and then the Thanksgiving banquet unfurls before you with a dizzying array of wonderment. Fruits and nuts and breads and sweetness, each complimenting the other. Want something a little different? Just wait a minute, come back to it, and the Alioth will rebalance to present a different element for you to savor. I love the sweet smoke that rides from the nose through the palate to a glorious finish. It’s the backbone of the entire experience. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised at this, considering the impressive blend of barley and maturation choices. Clearly the blender’s art is on show here. It’s a complete package.
The blender’s art is on show here. It’s a complete package.
Ben – The nose is almost like a chromesthesia, with the elements evoking sounds and colors, there’s so much going on. There are multiple vanillas because of all the different oaks. You could spend a day talking about this whisky. I’ve never been able to tell multiple oaks before but I can with this one.
Henry – Maple, bacon, and – believe it or not – banoffee pie on the nose focuses to rich and oily peat when you really get your nose in there. A nutty sweetness reminiscent of argan oil or pecan oil appears when you breathe really deeply. Argan, sweet smoke, and pecan wood on the palate. Peat returns on the finish with a touch of sweet smoke. Like a barbecue in a glass; an exploration of wood and smoke that makes me want more. Lots more.
Kristin – The smell is just as good as the taste. The Alioth has a sweetness that I like.
