Motörhead Whisky from Mackmyra - 40%
It's safe to say I usually give most celebrity branded products a wide berth based on previous experiences which have tended to suggest a focus on style over substance. On this occasion however, there were a couple of things which made me keen to see what this whisky had to offer.
Firstly, it's Motörhead...bought the t-shirt, saw them live, played the albums at decibels unsafe for human ears, probably killed more than a few brain cells headbanging to Ace of Spades in my spotty youth.
Secondly, it's from Mackmyra, a distillery I've developed a real soft spot for over the last couple of years. They do things differently, but they always seem to do them well.
Lemmy was well known for his propensity for JD & Coke (to the point a petition was raised to have the name of the drink changed to 'The Lemmy' in tribute after his sad passing). The question for me was whether a whisky bearing the name of his band would be designed with mixing in mind or how it would stand up on its own.
Distillery notes:
Motörhead whisky is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky with an oaky and slightly fruity character, characterized by ageing five years in new American oak casks, where parts of the whisky has got a final touch from Oloroso casks the last six months.
Nose: Fruity, nutty and spicy oak barrels with aromas of vanilla and almond, citrus and dried fruit. Spicy and herby aromas of tobacco and anise
Summary: Rich syrupy spiced sultanas.
Appearance: Deep copper-gold in colour, quickly forms beads before falling as slow, thin legs.
Nose: Vanilla, caramel sweetness, Dundee fruit cake and just a faint hint of oak
Palate: Caramel and vanilla in abundance, cinnamon spice, gentle oak and mild tobacco. The promise of fruit cake has moved east and transformed into Lebkuchen
Finish: Sultanas, caramel, Christmas spices and light oak tannins.
Summary: At £75 this isn’t a cheap bottle, especially for a NAS whisky at 40% abv, so it has a lot to live up to. I went into tasting this with more hope than expectation, but Mackmyra really have pulled this one off beautifully.
The bourbon influence is what first hits you, but the use of a small amount of Oloroso casks has added a depth and complexity to that vanilla and caramel sweetness, and there is still that unmistakable Mackmyra character running through it.
There is an awful lot to like in this whisky, and I’ve yet to find anything to dislike. The only downside I’ve seen so far is that the level in the bottle is going down far too quickly. I’m sure Lemmy would be delighted with the results.
I think I’ll leave the final words on this one to Motörhead...
You know we aim to please,
Bring you to your knees,
It's a bomber, it's a bomber, it's a bomber.
If you would like to know more about Mackmyra, their whiskies and their ethos, follow the link to their website.
