Fary Lochan is not the first, nor the only Danish single malt, but I believe it’s the first distillery in Denmark which is producing malt whisky according to Scottish traditions, with pot stills made by Forsyth’s.
The distillery is located in a small village named Farre, not far from Billund and Legoland. Fary is the old spelling and Lochan indicates the small lake that is found near the distillery.
The first Fary Lochan release was bottled September 14th, 2013 and a few bottles are still for sale on their website for a supposedly symbolic € 200.
Fary Lochan (48%, OB 2013, batch #1, cask #2010-02, 03 and 04, 555 miniatures)
Fary Lochan (48%, OB 2013, batch #1, cask #2010-02, 03 and 04, 555 miniatures)Nose: not too new-makey which already a good thing. It is all on grist and cereals. Hints of yeasty dough. A bit of sawdust. Underneath is a clear vanilla note and maybe vague fruity notes. Soft pepper and aniseed. Over time it settles down and becomes a little rounder.
Mouth: punchy, with an alcohol tingle to it. Sweet cereals. Vanilla again, with more new oak and a lot of spices (pepper, clove). Quite dry and a little plankish, but really not bad for a first release.
Finish: medium long, the sharpness fades and a nice fruity sweetness remains.
Let me start by saying that I’ve seen much worse efforts from start-up distilleries. It’s quite enjoyable, but young and a little rough. Let’s see what the future brings. Thanks to Steffen for passing on this sample.
Score: 75/100