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The very best whisky makers are like compelling storytellers. With each release, they add a new chapter to an enthralling and authentic narrative that explores their history and home, gifting us, their audience, with a sense of connection to a place we’ve likely never been.
With that in mind, Danish distiller Stauning is a storyteller of supreme talent and something of an outlier in the whisky industry. Of course, we mean outlier in the best way, in that the fine folk at Stauning deliver tales that could only ever come from Denmark via a range of whiskies quite unlike anything else.
Imbued with the spirit of the Danish west coast, each Stauning release speaks to the rolling farmlands that meet the North Sea’s windswept shores, and thanks to the distillery’s deep connection to the surrounding land—where centuries of rye and barley have shaped local life—each bottle produced is a tribute to the region’s culture and natural beauty.
A Celebration of the Seasons
A particularly intriguing demonstration of this connection comes in the form of Stauning’s HØST double malt whisky. This key release from the distillery’s recent past—a standout even amongst Stauning’s highly impressive whisky palette—is a vibrant expression that represents the purest essence of the distillery’s signature approach to whisky making.
Fascinatingly, this approach includes Stauning being one of the few whisky makers in the world to still floor-malt all its grain on-site. A particularly traditional, labour-intensive method of producing malt, it’s just one example of how Stauning’s fierce commitment to retaining complete control over its whisky-making process sees it maintain the unshakable connection to its roots needed to ensure it captures the serene terroir of its home. With every Stauning drop being distilled, matured, and bottled on-site—from raw materials to the final spirit—expressions like HØST are a vivid reflection of the place from which they’ve sprung and more.
Meaning “harvest” in Danish, HØST is a stunning homage to the turning of the seasons and the cyclical rhythm of nature, without which we would not have the raw materials required for whisky production. A blend of rye malt whisky and single malt, HØST is a smooth, fruit-forward, and floral whisky, reminiscent of the warmth and comfort of the late summer harvest, when the Stauning team meticulously selects from the locally sourced rye and barley.
A Perfectly Aged Dane
A serene marriage of single malt and malted rye whisky, which is then aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, heavily charred new American oak, and finished in first-fill Port barriques, HØST offers an immaculate balance between delicacy and depth.
Bottled at 40.5% ABV, HØST’s layers of ripe fruits, caramel, toasted oak, and wildflowers make every sip a spellbinding walk through Danish fields as you look out over the ocean. With a flavour profile that’s accessible yet refined, it’s an expression that will satisfy both seasoned whisky lovers and those taking the first steps in the world of whisky.
No matter where you are in your whisky journey, HØST and the rest of Stauning’s whisky offerings are a revelation just waiting to be discovered. Do yourself a favour and immerse yourself in the story this Danish powerhouse is telling via the link below.
