Spirit of Hven Seven Stars Alioth Single Malt Swedish Whisky 500ml

Produced by Spirit of Hven at its family-owned distillery on the Swedish island of Hven, Seven Stars No. 5 Alioth is the fifth release in the Seven Stars series. This moderately peated single malt is made from a precisely documented combination of lager malt, peated malt and chocolate malt. It matures across American and French oak before finishing in 500-litre Spanish oak marrying casks previously used for dry Oloroso sherry. Bottled at 45% ABV, Alioth combines rounded peat smoke with raisins, chocolate, citrus, tobacco, dried fruit and dry, nutty Oloroso character.

Food Pairing: Smoked beef, roasted pork, aged cheese, dark chocolate, roasted almonds, or dried-fruit desserts with citrus and warming spices.

Tasting Notes: Dry, smoky and complex, balancing rounded peat with chocolate, raisins, dried plum, citrus, roasted coffee, tobacco and nutty Oloroso influence.

Nose: A distant bonfire and coastal seaweed open the aroma, followed by raisins, honeyed pipe tobacco, chocolate and dry citrus notes.

Palate: Powerful yet balanced, with pronounced dry oak and mature Oloroso character complemented by chocolate, dried fruit, citrus and controlled peat smoke.

Finish: Medium-long and distinctly dry, with lingering smoke, seasoned oak, dark chocolate and dried fruit without excessive tannic bitterness. With water, softer notes of plum, apricot, coffee and polished wood emerge.

Serve: Enjoy neat at room temperature in a Glencairn or tulip-shaped glass; adding a few drops of water can bring forward chocolate, dried plum, apricot, coffee and softer smoky notes.