Mackmyra has been selling its single malt whisky since 2002 and, as any new distillery would hope for, the bottles flew off the shelves and the Swedes were soon faced with the challenge of making a core range.
Flash forward to 2010 when Mackmyra release Brukswhisky. The name means “mill whisky” and is a reference to the original Mackmyra site. This became of one their first core releases and is now referred to by the distillery as “The Swedish Original”.
As ever, Mackmyra provide a load of transparency over their methods and recipes and the Brukswhisky is currently made up from an in-house blend of:
200 litres First-fill Bourbon casks
100 litres Swedish Oak. Elegant recipe, first-fill quality.
100 litres Sherry Cask. Elegant recipe, first-fill quality.
200 litres Ex-Bourbon casks elegant and peat tail, first-fill quality.
Despite being usurped as the distillery’s opening gambit by the even more approachable Mack (see notes here), because the whisky has become a fan favourite the distillery couldn’t fully drop it from their roster and so it is still released in smaller quantities as part of the distillery’s “Limited” range.
The final whisky is captured at the very specific 41.4% ABV and is housed in the synonymous Stockholm bottle with diagrams of the distillery’s first stills drawn around the outside. Bottles currently on sale in the UK around £45 GBP.
Nose
Loads of soft and sweet smells arrive vying for attention: Lemon curd, toffee apples, and vanilla. It may be something of niche note but there is scent that reminds me of Victorian style sweets – the ones which were basically herbs or spices in sugar because for the light and fruity smells, there’s an underlying licorice and menthol mint pair of notes.
Taste
The first familiar flavour is that of Nice biscuits (the style of biscuit rather than just being a “nice” biscuit). There’s a little lemon flavour too, maybe even a limoncello note served whisky-style. The sweet flavours become a little more unctuous with banana and toffee. Banoffee, I guess? Definitely a dessert set of flavours as the oak and touch of peat bring pastry and baking spices.
Finish
A fairly quick and fresh one-two combo of citrus and vanilla. The menthol note cuts it all off and invites you to revisit the glass… swiftly.
Verdict
Remarkably light and sweet with classic delicious and familiar malt flavours, all delivered with a citrusy kick and a distinctly Scandinavian herby/licorice note. The light body and sweetness makes the whisky coat the mouth without ever being thick or cloying.
Despite knowing that there is peated element to the whisky, it really isn’t that noticeable at all as a classic smoky or peaty profile. The peat must be the source of that licorice and menthol notes that keeps it all very fresh and clean.
The percentage on this seems oddly specific and must have been a step made before finding their comfy place at their preferred 46.1% ABV.
This sample actually had bits of oak floating in it, and I quite respect that. On that point, the use of Swedish oak cannot be understated here, as it is a notoriously difficult tree to grow given the harsh Swedish environment. It is now known to impart a particularly spicy note and here it sits well with the majority of bourbon cask influence.
The fact that this is now just within their “limited” range may just be a sign of times and again on like the fact that it might just be kept on for the fans. Perhaps the barrels are just being used and aged elsewhere. The Brukswhisky contents are generally 5-6 years old, and with the recent Swedish Oak / Svensk Ek being in such demand, perhaps this one has to take a back seat whilst the core range does focus on that key USP element.
Overall, a little something different, a good introduction to what Mackmyra and undoubtedly something that has helped build a reputation for the Swedish distillery.
M
Sample disclosure: This is a miniature bottle that I bought as part of an online tasting pack from Mackmyra. All notes are intended as an honest, fair, and independent review of the whisky, and not as a promotion. Please drink responsibly. Please drink wisely.
whisky unplugged 
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