Box Distillery The 2nd Step Collection 01 Swedish Single Malt Whisky 51.1%

Box Distillery The 2nd Step Collection 01 is a powerful and exciting release from the Swedish distillery Box, today known as High Coast Distillery. This whisky marks the beginning of the second phase of the distillery’s journey, where they truly start to explore the depth and complexity of their spirits through a series of experimental and well-balanced bottlings.

The 2nd Step Collection 01 is crafted from a combination of casks, including first-fill bourbon barrels and casks that previously held sherry. This composition gives the whisky a fine balance between sweetness, spice, and cask influence, while still preserving the distillery’s characteristic clean and elegant profile.

On the nose, the whisky offers fresh fruit notes of green apples, pears, and citrus, followed by honey, vanilla, and a subtle nutty tone from the sherry casks. The palate is full-bodied and lively, with layers of malt, dried fruit, light caramel, and spices such as ginger and cinnamon. The high strength of 51.1% adds intensity and structure, yet the whisky remains balanced and elegant. The finish is long, warm, and spicy with hints of oak and a touch of dryness that invites another sip.

Box Distillery The 2nd Step Collection 01 is a whisky that demonstrates the distillery’s ambitions and potential. It represents a milestone in Swedish whisky production and is an excellent example of how new distilleries in the Nordics can produce single malts on a level that matches the classic Scottish references – but with a character entirely of their own.

Distillery: Box Distillery
Name: The 2nd Step Collection
Age: NA Bottled February 2016
Type: Single Swedish Malt Whisky
ABV: 51.1%
70 cl
Other:

Box Distillery The 2nd Step Collection 02 Swedish Single Malt Whisky 51.2% is a bold and intriguing release from the Swedish Box Distillery, today known as High Coast Distillery. This edition is the second in the 2nd Step Collection, a series that continues the distillery’s journey of exploring raw materials, cask types, and the influence of maturation to create whiskies with depth, complexity, and a distinctly Nordic character.

The whisky is crafted from a mix of casks, including first-fill bourbon, sherry casks, and selected Swedish oak casks. This combination provides a unique balance of sweetness, spice, and pronounced wood influence, showcasing Box’s ambition to merge classic whisky traditions with innovation and a sense of Nordic terroir.

On the nose, it opens with fresh aromas of red berries, citrus, and green apples, complemented by honey, vanilla, and a subtle spiced note from the oak. The palate is powerful and complex, offering layers of ripe fruit, dark chocolate, caramel, and warming spices such as cinnamon, pepper, and ginger. The high strength of 51.2% ABV delivers intensity and structure, yet the whisky remains harmonious and refined. The finish is long and nuanced, with notes of dried fruit, roasted oak, and a gentle spiced dryness that invites another sip.

Box Distillery The 2nd Step Collection 02 is a whisky that highlights the distillery’s craftsmanship and ambition while cementing Sweden’s place on the world whisky map. It is a bottle for collectors and enthusiasts seeking a whisky experience beyond the ordinary.

Distillery: Box Distillery
Name: The 2nd Step Collection 02
Age: NAS, Bottled 2016
Type: Single Swedish Malt Whisky
ABV: 51.2%
70 cl
Other: Limited release

Box Whisky American Oak Swedish Single Malt Whisky 50 cl 50.8% is a characterful and vibrant single malt from the Swedish Box Distillery, today known as High Coast Distillery. This bottling highlights American oak, which through maturation imparts a pronounced profile of vanilla, caramel, and warm, spicy sweetness.

American Oak is matured in first-fill bourbon casks, creating a clean and intense whisky experience with a strong influence from the wood. The combination of Box’s pure distillate and the bold cask character results in a whisky that is both youthful and fresh while remaining complex.

The nose offers sweet aromas of vanilla, coconut, and honey, accompanied by fresh notes of citrus, green apples, and a touch of spiced oak. The palate is full and balanced, with layers of caramelized sugar, ripe fruit, cinnamon, ginger, and a creamy vanilla sweetness, rounded off by a subtle nutty undertone. The 50.8% ABV delivers power and intensity without overpowering the elegance. The finish is long, warm, and lightly spiced with vanilla and roasted oak.

Box Whisky American Oak is an excellent example of how Swedish whisky can express itself through classic bourbon casks while maintaining a distinct Nordic identity. It is an exciting and powerful whisky for both collectors and enthusiasts who want to experience the unique character that Box creates through its combination of ingredients, climate, and cask maturation.

Distillery: Box Distillery (High Coast Distillery)
Name: American Oak
Type: Single Swedish Malt Whisky
ABV: 50.8%
Size: 50 cl
Other: Matured in first-fill bourbon casks

Box Whisky The Explorer 2015 Box Distillery Swedish Single Malt Whisky 50 cl 48.3%

Box Whisky The Explorer 2015 is an exciting single malt from the Swedish Box Distillery, now known as High Coast Distillery. This release marks the distillery’s exploration of new maturation methods and experiments with casks, resulting in a complex and characterful whisky.

The whisky is matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon casks and previously used sherry casks, providing a fine balance of sweetness, spice, and cask influence. The nose opens with fresh fruit notes of pear, green apple, and citrus, followed by subtle hints of vanilla, honey, and a delicate nutty character from the sherry casks.

On the palate, it is full-bodied and lively, with layers of malt, dried fruit, light caramel, and spices such as cinnamon and ginger. The high alcohol content of 48.3% adds intensity and structure, yet the whisky remains balanced and elegant. The finish is long, warm, and spicy with a touch of oak, inviting another sip.

Box Whisky The Explorer 2015 showcases the distillery’s ambition and experimental approach. It represents a highlight in Swedish single malt production and is an excellent choice for those seeking Nordic whisky with character and depth.

Distillery: Box Distillery
Name: The Explorer 2015
Size: 50 cl
Other: Matured in first-fill bourbon and selected sherry casks

High Coast 2013/2024 Adelphi Selection 10 Year Old Single Malt Swedish Whisky 57.1%

High Coast 2013 Adelphi Selection is an exclusive Swedish single malt whisky bottled at 57.1% from a single first fill Oloroso sherry hogshead – only 320 bottles were released.

This edition is part of the Adelphi Selection series, known for uncompromising quality and small batch releases. The whisky was distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2024 after 10 years of maturation in cask number 1527, a first fill Oloroso sherry hogshead that has given the whisky an intense and complex profile with distinct notes of dark fruit, spice, and smoke.

High Coast Distillery, formerly known as Box, is located by the Ångermanälven river in northern Sweden and ranks among the world’s northernmost distilleries. The extreme temperature variations in the region contribute to a unique maturation dynamic, allowing the whisky to develop quickly and with great intensity. The distillery uses both Swedish pilsner malt and peated malt imported from Scotland, resulting in a unique balance between Nordic finesse and classic whisky character.

The nose opens with rich aromas of chocolate, dried fruit, and roasted nuts, combined with gentle smoke and spice. The palate is complex and full-bodied with notes of coffee, chocolate-covered raisins, and malted grain, balanced by a subtle smoky character. The finish is long and warm with lingering notes of spiced oak, dark fruit, and an elegant smoky touch.

Distillery: High Coast Distillery
Independent bottler: Adelphi Selection
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2024
Age: 10 years
Cask type: First Fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead
Cask number: 1527
ABV: 57.1%
Volume: 700 ml
Bottles produced: 320
Filtration: Non-chillfiltered
Color: Natural
Origin: Sweden
Type: Single Malt Swedish Whisky

High Coast 2013/2024 Adelphi Selection is a whisky for the discerning enthusiast who appreciates sherry influence, smoky finesse, and Nordic terroir. Its high strength and limited release make it a compelling collector’s item and an intense tasting experience.

Mackmyra Reserve Bertelsen Cask No.1 Swedish Single Malt Whisky 50 cl 48.3%

The Swedish distillery Mackmyra sold a small 30-liter cask back in 2004, made from Swedish oak and filled with unpeated new make spirit, to one of the owners of Whisky.dk – hence the name: Bertelsen Cask No.1 on the label. Olsen also received a cask named Olsens Tønde. After just under 5 years of maturation, 54 bottles with a beautiful color and superb flavor were bottled and brought to Denmark.

Distillery: Mackmyra Reserve
Name: Svensk Ek
Country: Sweden
Age: 4 years (Distilled: 2004-11-08 / Bottled: 2009-04-06)
Type: Single Swedish Malt Whisky
ABV: 48.3%
50 cl
Other: Cask #04-638