Hødal Whisky, Master's Choice, 5 year old, Danish Single Malt, Denmark (48%, 50cl)

Hødal Whisky, Master's Choice is a 5-year-old Danish single malt whisky hand-distilled at Nordisk Brænderi in Fjerritslev, located in the notable North Jutland region of Denmark. This special limited edition is part of the distillery's small Brygmester (Brewmaster) series, released precisely ten years to the day after founder Anders Bilgram first started distilling at the site.

The technical production of this expression relies on collaboration with regional craft breweries. The wash is brewed using pure barley malt by Thisted Bryghus and Skagen Bryghus, before being copper pot distilled at Nordisk Brænderi. The spirit undergoes a triple-cask maturation process, utilizing one 200-liter and two 100-liter Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Filled in September 2017 and October 2018, the casks were married and bottled in November 2023. The whisky is non-chill filtered and proofed down to 48% ABV using local water drawn from the Hødalen moraine hills.

The aromatic profile balances deep cask maturation with crisp northern freshness. The nose opens with prominent notes of brown sugar, vanilla tobacco, and old leather. On the palate, the liquid is full-bodied and rounded, delivering a delicate sweetness from the Pedro Ximénez wood that is immediately checked by a vibrant, clean freshness and malty character. The finish is smooth and warming, leaving a lingering trace of dark dried fruits and gentle oak spice.