Elsburn The Journey 2021
Rich, Dried Fruits2022-02-26
Home is where the Harz is writes the distillery on the back of the outer packaging. If you do a little research on the website, you quickly get the feeling that a lot of love goes into the work there. For example, the distillery does not want to join the Association of German Whisky Distillers because they consider themselves mavericks and the whisky comes first. Somehow likeable.
Hammerschmiede has been producing single malt whisky since 2002, making it one of the oldest whisky distilleries in mainland Europe. In the meantime, the range includes a not negligible selection of good to very good Whiskys.
Elsburn The Journey is often named as a deputy classic and entry into the Harz whisky world.
Smell
The initial oak quickly fades and makes way for fruity notes of cranberries, dried fruits and plums. In the meantime, we catch a glimpse of coffee. Every now and then, we have a smell of forest in the morning dew in our nostrils.
Taste
The sweet sherry flavours are accompanied by unexpected light smoke. We perceive a little oak, but more cherry sweets, dried fruit and sweetened condensed milk. Very balanced.
Finish
Smoke and oak linger in the back and turn into a bitter-sweet short finish.
Conclusion
You can taste it: the whisky's journey through ex-Sherry, ex-Madeira, ex-Malaga, ex-Port, ex-Marsala and ex-GrandCru Bordeaux casks leaves us with an unmistakable aroma bomb that surprises us. Together with the light smoke, the whisky is wonderfully balanced and complex. More of it with pleasure. Germany can do whisky. The value for money ratio is also right here.