Nordic whisky has enjoyed something of a stymied awakening. Finland, the land of a thousand lakes has arguably the most deeply rooted drinking culture in all of Scandinavia. It is of course no stranger to the art of distilling, dazzling us all with hitherto magical golden liquids, and the production of quality grain plays a big role in the country’s economy.
To kick off our first whisky for 2024, Tattersalls is ploughing the Teerenpeli Kaski Single Malt Finnish Whisky. To date, Teerenpeli has bottled several expressions, all produced from locally sourced ingredients, and all worthy of individual merit. But the Kaski is their first sherry aged whisky. Welcome to Tattersalls’ first Finnish whisky:
Colour: Roasted brown sugar, an indication of the sherry cask
Nose: Smells very fruity with hints of tropical fruit and chocolate
Palate: Raisin sweet, oaky with a burnt orange zest coming through
Water: Funnily enough, the water brings out the whiff of smoke that was not previously present
Finish: The finish is good but way too fast. If only I could get the taste of fruit cake to linger on a bit more
Kaski is derived from traditional Finnish farming vocabulary, meaning swidden or burn-clearing. Before ploughing the ground, the first thing was to slash and burn the ground. This is the first phase of cultivation – a new beginning.
Needless to say, a dram of Finnish whisky is the perfect round-off to a traditional sauna ritual.
