Smögen 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection 10 years old Single Malt Swedish Whisky 70 cl 58.1%

On Sweden's west coast, where the Skagerrak meets land by the tiny fishing village of Smögen, a lawyer with a taste for smoke distils his own spirit in one small copper still. This ten-year-old single cask left that still in 2013, was bottled by independent bottler Adelphi Selection in 2023, and only 232 bottles exist.

The Expert's Description

Smögen 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky matured in a first-fill bourbon cask and bottled at 58.1%.

Smögen distillery was founded in 2009 by lawyer and whisky author Pär Caldenby, who insisted on one thing from the start: the whisky had to be heavily peated. Production runs in small batches through a single, small copper still, giving the distiller tight control over every batch and a result packed with character.

This particular release was distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2023 after ten years of maturation in cask #58, a first-fill bourbon cask selected by Adelphi Selection's team for its series of independent bottlings. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured, and with only 232 bottles released, it belongs to whoever is quick and curious enough to find it.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry smoke meets fresh bourbon vanilla, with sea salt and tarred rope close behind. Underneath sits a sweetness of honey and ripe pear that keeps the smoke from taking over entirely.

Palate

Powerful and cask-strength intense from the first sip, with smoke, black pepper and burnt sugar in tight interplay. The bourbon cask shows clearly through vanilla and coconut, while coastal salt adds a maritime edge.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering smoke, toasted oak and a dry, ashy close that invites another sip.

Specifications

Name: Smögen 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection 10 Year Old Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Smögen
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Bohuslän, Sweden
Type: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 year(s)
ABV: 58.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill bourbon cask, cask #58
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 232
Edition: Adelphi Selection
EAN no.: 5060383653458

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Cask strength · Spiced · Sweet

Investment Potential

Medium. Smögen ranks among the most sought-after Scandinavian distilleries with collectors, and with only 232 bottles from this particular cask, it will not be easy to find again once it is gone. The peated house style and Adelphi's name on the label both work in this bottle's favour.

Did You Know?

Smögen produces under 35,000 litres a year, making it one of the smallest distilleries in the Nordics. Pär Caldenby, the man behind it, wrote a book about enjoying malt whisky long before he ever distilled a drop of his own.

See our full range of Smögen

See our full range of Adelphi

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Smögen 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection

How does Smögen 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection taste?

It tastes of dry smoke, sea salt and bourbon vanilla, with black pepper and burnt sugar in a powerful, cask-strength whole. The finish is long and warm with a dry, ashy close.

Is this whisky worth the money?

Yes, if you enjoy high-quality peated Scandinavian whisky. Only 232 bottles exist from this exact cask, and both Smögen's reputation as a distillery and Adelphi's careful selection process speak for the bottle's value as a collector's item.

Why is Adelphi on the label when the distillery is Smögen?

Adelphi Selection is an independent bottler that buys single casks directly from distilleries such as Smögen and bottles them under its own name. That means the whisky comes from one specific cask, unlike the distillery's own bottlings, which are often assembled from several casks.

How smoky is this whisky?

Quite pronounced. Smögen is known for one of the most heavily peated profiles in Scandinavia, and the smoke is amplified further by the high 58.1% strength.

How should I serve it?

Neat in a nosing glass, ideally with a few drops of water to tame the cask strength and let the smoke unfold. Room temperature works best, so every nuance gets its moment.

Where is Smögen distillery located?

On the west coast of Sweden, close to the fishing village of Smögen, where the distillery was founded in 2009 by lawyer Pär Caldenby. Production runs on a small scale through a single copper still.

Is this whisky suited to a collector?

Yes, the limited bottle count and the cask strength make it a natural choice for collectors looking for single-cask releases from respected independent bottlers.