Mackmyra Äppelblom (2019)

So I’ve tried the Mackmyra Vinterglöd a little while ago, a mulled wine finished whisky that worked surprisingly well. It made me curious enough to try to get my hand on a few other Mackmyra whiskies from their seasonal range. It’s full of interesting whiskies matured in a whole range of casks, although none probably as farfetched as the Vinterglöd.

One such other seasonal release is the Mackmyra Äppelblom. Finished in calvados casks from Christian Drouin, this is certainly not pushing the boundaries as much, but interesting nonetheless. There are not many calvados matured or finished whiskies on the market, are there?

Mackmyra Äppelblom (46.1%, OB, 2019)

Nose: It is floral, yet with pronounced notes of apple juice, and apple and pear skin, so the name is very apt indeed. Sweeter aromas are there in the form of fudge, but also some cherry wood and even a hint of juniper.
Taste: Fairly creamy but with a somewhat spicy arrival (cloves and ginger mainly), quickly followed by cotton candy, bruised apples and caramel-glazed red apples.
Finish: Lingering interplay of sweet fruits and charred oak.

Score: 83

While the oak is a tad too present at times, overall this is almost like an in-depth exploration of an apple orchard. Plenty of apple and pears in there, some of them the result of Mackmyra’s own spirit, others obtained by maturation in Calvados casks.

Photo: The Whisky Exchange

Thijs Klaverstijn

Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.