Thy Danish single malt whisky bringing tears to your eyes
Let me warn you beforehand, this tasting note might make your children cry. I am writing my introduction two days after tasting the sample, and still I have not fully recovered. Read on with caution, while I bring in remembrance the first time I sipped from a whisky of the Danish producer Thy. It was when I wrote a blog about the single cask that was selected for The Netherlands, and was quite charmed by it. Got some good reactions from people about that blog, not in the least from the producers themselves. I hope they will forgive me the next … rollercoaster! It was a hell of a ride, that’s for sure.
Thy 2019, bottled at 57,6 % abv by Berry Bros & Rudd
First things first: This is a combination from two quarter casks with the numbers 175 and 258. Bottled in 2022 in the Nordic Casks series # 2 this resulted in 235 bottles.
Upon Sipping: I have some Danish whisky friends who are deeply involved in the meat processing industry. First impression on this Thy is liver sausage, so cheers to them, Jesper and Morten! Of course, they were not involved in producing this whisky, and I have no idea how this aroma can be accomplished in a product made from malted barley. But here we are! It continues on all kinds of vegetables in a rich get-together and then left on the fire to boil. Minty hints. It reminds me of all kinds of weird drinks my grandma used to have on the shelf, and I’m not talking about her sherry. Pernod, maybe? By far, the most extreme and unusual aroma I ever got from nosing a whisky. Thy can put that in their pocket!
Taking a sip, I must say … no, I am at a loss for words. It is truly terrible and makes me doubt my entire existence as a human being in general and a whisky enthusiast specifically. It is very harsh, like a forced down medicine, crushed paracetamol in a half glass of water that I detested to drink as a child. I quickly added some water, to find some more nuance (I am using the word lightly). There is interesting wood and a slight hint of sour apples. The finish is warming and comforting, in sharp contrast to the rest of the experience. The smoke on this malt whisky gives it such a twist that this Thy can easily be described as the most singular experience in (European) whisky.
Word to the Wise: Wow, just wow. Now, this is one “for discussion”. It will keep you busy. An unforgettable experience that can be yours for around 170 euro (crazy money for a 3 year old), but be prepared that you might want to empty 68 cl of this in your sink. This is the prime example of a love it or hate it whisky. I am not a fan, but they might exist, judging by community scores on Whiskybase from people who’s tastes I know and respect. The earlier mentioned single cask comes from the same background, I understand, and had already evolved much beyond this.
Score: 55 points
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