Ten years ago, four friends who had only recently started a scotch club heard about World Whisky Day, an international day of whisky celebration. Since 2014, we have held tastings both in person and virtual, sampling 50+ whiskies from 15 countries to over 120 people. Our proceeds will be going to Minneapolis-based charity People and Pets Together, who provide pet food and supplies to local food shelves. If you can’t attend, consider a donation. This year, we happily showcase five whiskies that we think underscores how diverse whisky can be. These will be from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, and Japan.
High Coast Hav
High Coast Distillery was founded in 2010 in the Swedish hamlet of Sörviken. The location was formerly a box factory and then power station. The High Coast name only came about during an expansion and rebrand in 2018, however. The distillery is situated beside the Ångerman River and also sources water from the nearby Lake Bålsjön. The extremely wide swing in temperature throughout the year, from -30°F in the winter to 70°F in the summer (not accounting for wind chill), mean that the casking process is accelerated more than almost any place on earth. Master distiller Roger Melander has been spending the past decade and more crafting whiskies worthy of the location and the expanded portfolio now includes four core offerings and dozens of limited editions including the earliest batches. The High Coast Hav, Swedish for “sea”, should maybe considered their gateway offering, consisting of a lightly peated whisky with oak influence predominating.
Teeling Blackpitts
Since 2015, the Teeling Distillery in Dublin has been bringing Irish Whiskey to the world. Their peated “Blackpitts” edition, so named for the area surrounding the distillery traditionally used for malting barley, utilizes the distillery’s unique aging approach, which uses both ex-bourbon and ex-Sauternes white wine casks to impart a new and unique experience for Teeling and for Irish Whiskey in general. Bottled at 46% and with no chill filtration, the Blackpitts promises to deliver a little something new from the ashes of something old.