Stauning, Kaos, Triple Malt Whisky, Denmark (46%)

Danish mavericks Stauning are distillers of both barley and rye whiskies. This triple malt whisky is a little stunner. Rather unconventionally, they’ve distilled – and then separately matured – casks of whisky made from peated barley, unpeated barley and rye. They’ve then vatted them together, creating real complexity. The spice from the rye and the smoke from the peat wave around one another like some brainteasing Möbius strip.

A solid core of beautifully soft and sweet oily spirit holds it all together with aplomb – likely a product of their plethora of tiny, direct-fired stills. This is excellent with bitter chocolate, whilst squirreled away on the sofa in some chunky knitwear.

Rob Whitehead, Spirits Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (January 2021)