New Whisky from Danish Thornæs Whisky Distillery – Blog Post by Mads Thorup

Thornæs Distillery is one of the newer distilleries in Denmark. The distillery is located in North Zealand, in the small town of Kragerup, just north of Hillerød. It was founded by Torben Thornæs, who had always dreamed of owning his own distillery. That dream slowly began to take shape in 2017, when the first steps toward it were taken. Torben’s hope was that he would be able to taste his own 12-year-old whisky before turning 60. In 2020, the first new make went into casks, and in 2023, the first official whisky was released – though with a couple of young releases the year before. Today, there are already over ten official releases, all in limited editions. This is mainly due to the decision to use small casks down to 50 L, which helps the whisky mature faster than in larger casks. This also contributes to creating more unique whiskies.

An important standpoint for the distillery is the use of organic malt and the clean drinking water found around Gribskov in North Zealand. In addition to whisky production, Torben does not shy away from experimenting a little. While waiting for the whisky to mature in the casks, he enjoys producing other spirits as well, including gin, schnapps, and aquavit.
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Recently, Torben released two limited editions. The first is a whisky that has matured for two years in chestnut casks (Chestnut Double Cask), a type of wood rarely used for whisky aging. The second whisky (Balkan Peat) has been aged in small Bulgarian oak casks, using lightly peated barley. After about two years, both whiskies were transferred to a 200-liter bourbon cask, where they were allowed to finish maturing. These are precisely the two whiskies I am reviewing this time.

Thornæs Whisky Chestnut – Double Cask – 49.4%
The whisky has a golden, slightly brownish color. On the first nose, citrus notes appear along with burnt sugar/roasted almonds. It is as if the aroma develops in the glass, from a fresh, tangy scent to a massive caramel and sugary sweetness with plenty of vanilla. The taste confirms the distinct caramel, oak, and delicious vanilla. It starts out sugary-sweet and develops into caramel. The finish offers a nutty hint and a touch of acidity, otherwise leaving a lingering caramel-like sweetness. A great choice for whisky lovers with a sweet tooth, without becoming overly sugary.

Thornæs Whisky Balkan Peat – Double Cask – 48.8%
This whisky is more golden in color and not quite as brownish as the Chestnut Double Cask. On the nose, there are notes of citrus fruits, pineapple, honey, and a mild to light peat that never becomes overpowering. On the palate, a distinct honeyed sweetness comes first, developing into oak and vanilla, followed by a mild to moderate smoky flavor reminiscent of a campfire. The peat intensity on the palate is also never too strong, leaving room for the other flavors to shine through. The finish gives a lovely lingering campfire sensation as the sweet notes slowly fade away. A truly enjoyable dram for those who like a touch of smoke without it being too overwhelming, while still allowing plenty of sweetness to come through.

See all the variants from Thornæs Distillery here.

Relaterede produkter

Thornæs Chestnut Double Cask Organic Single Malt Danish Whisky 70 cl 49.4%

EUR 93,75

Thornæs Balkan Peat Organic Single Malt Danish Whisky 70 cl 48,8%

EUR 93,75

Thornæs 2nd Release 2020/2023 Organic Single Malt Danish Whisky 50 cl 50.5%

EUR 107,00