Pubs are currently closed in Ireland for the COVID pandemic – yet they remained open in Sweden.
On a previous visit to Gothenburg I had the pleasure of enjoying one of them.
There’s a different feel to the bars in Sweden. Licencing laws require food to be served & consequently tables & chairs are common place – rather than nooks & crannies.
At Ölrepubliken I sat myself down by the bar counter to admire the whisky selection & chat with the friendly staff.
Ardbeg was in abundance – Ölrepukliken are ambassadors for the brand – but it was Swedish Whisky that interested me.
By way of a starter – a glass from the small cask in the corner was offered.
Mackmyra staff regularly top up this barrel with cask strength products in a solera style system.
How cool is that!
A unique taste experience every time you visit!
Luckily for me the current contents consisted of a smoky – or rök in Swedish – element augmented by bourbon & sherry casks too.
It certainly warmed me up!
Rich notes of vanilla & dark fruits. No chill filtering or added caramel here. A dry savouriness – almost chewy.
Gorgeous!
A whisky menu was proffered & a private bottling for the bar featuring more rök malt finished in oloroso was next.
The contrast between the dry smokiness & the sweet luxurious fruits really worked well.
Wonderful!
To finish off a clutch of silver labelled, black banded Mackmyras caught my eye.
Part of the Moment Range I’d never encountered before.
I chose Jakt – named after the Swedish wine casks it’s finished in.
Who knew Sweden even did wine?
At 48.1% Jakt didn’t quite have the punch of the cask strength beauties I’d just engaged with.
Nonetheless rich fruity notes blossomed in a softly complex display of sumptuousness.
Picking a favourite? – it would have to be the Ölrepubliken Cask.
The full strength rök offering in a unique combination of finishes just blew me away.
If your looking for a taste of Swedish Whiskey – Ölrepubliken is the place to go!
Skål!
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 