Chapter 32
My first The Heart Cut Whisky
After speaking with Georgie Bell (Leo’s Chapter 33), today we bring you four drams from The Heart Cut – a rising new player in the fantastic world of independent bottlers.
Today we explore whiskies from Finland, USA, Israel and Denmark. One of my favourite drams of all time is actually from Colorado, so I hope you’ll approach these with an open mind.
We truly enjoyed our time exploring these drams and appreciate Georgie and co-founder Fabrizio for their generosity. Without any further ado let’s have a look at my first The Heart Cut Whisky.
#3 Kyrö Distillery (361 bottles) – 52%
This 4 year old rye whisky from Finland has been matured in new American oak and it’s bottled at 52% volume. Being a single cask release, only 361 bottles (50 cl) have been released. Marketed in the UK for around £55.
Nose: A bold and inviting aroma, featuring the spiciness of rye intertwined with notes of vanilla and caramel. Subtle hints of dried fruits add depth, creating a warm and comforting bouquet.
Palate: Rich and textured, the palate offers flavors of sweet rye bread and honey, complemented by the tartness of wild berries. The experience is rounded off with smooth undertones of caramel and mocha.
Finish: A smooth and lingering finish, where the sweetness of caramel and the richness of mocha persist, leaving a lasting impression.
Overall: Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky showcases the distinctive character of Finnish rye, delivering a harmonious balance of spice and sweetness. Its complex profile and smooth finish make it a noteworthy expression in the world of rye whiskies.
#7 Westward Distillery (396 bottles) – 50%
This one is from Westward distillery – single malt whiskey distillery based in Portland WA. Distilled in 2018 and matured 5 years in new American Oak, it’s bottled at 50% abv and found at around £80 in the UK.
Nose: A refined and aromatic opening with elegant notes of sandalwood and frankincense, evoking a serene, almost meditative quality. Almonds add a soft nuttiness, lifted by a burst of zesty citrus that brings freshness and balance.
Palate: Sweet and festive, with flavors reminiscent of panettone and candied fruits. The profile is soft yet expressive, offering a gentle interplay of pastry sweetness and dried fruit richness.
Finish: Medium in length, leaving behind a pleasant echo of citrus and spiced sweetness.
Overall: A delicate and well-structured dram with a contemplative character. Subtle complexity, festive charm, and a graceful finish make this a lovely introduction to The Heart Cut series. Price point for size and age, probably a bit too high, purely from a customer point of view. We know very little about the cost of importation, bottling, marketing etc.
#4 M&h Distillery (398 bottles) – 57%
We can barely imagine how hard it must be to make whisky in Israel. This is from M&H Tel Aviv-Yafo based distillery. Little shy of 5 years this whisky has been matured in ex pomegranate casks and bottled at 57% abv cask strength unchillfiltered and natural colour.
Nose: Unusual and intriguing, with strong rum-like notes and rich demerara sugar leading the way. There’s a sharp, almost synthetic edge—acrylic and something reminiscent of a freshly polished crystal ball—adding a curious layer of mystery.
Palate: Surprisingly approachable after the nose, with a smooth and mellow delivery. Not bad, though it doesn’t quite live up to the promise of the aromatic intensity.
Finish: Moderate length, with faint sweetness and a hint of that rum character lingering softly.
Overall: A quirky and distinctive dram that walks an unusual line between sweetness and strangeness. While the nose steals the show, the rest offers an easy, if unconventional, sipping experience
#1 Stauning Distillery (371 bottles) – 52%
From Denmark based whisky distillery this is another 5-year-old dram bottled at 52% with a natural presentation. Cask maturation is ex-bourbon and madeira. Price point is £65 in the UK.
Nose: A bold and savory opening with unmistakable notes of smoked scamorza cheese. Layers of gentle smoke intertwine with anise, pak choi, and fresh celery—vegetal, herbal, and intriguingly offbeat.
Palate: A continuation of the savory theme, with flavors of BBQ-grilled halloumi taking center stage. Salty, smoky, and satisfyingly chewy in character.
Finish: Medium, with lingering savory smoke and a subtle herbal edge.
Overall: A truly unconventional dram that leans confidently into the savory spectrum. Quirky, smoky, and undeniably memorable—one for adventurous palates. For us it gets the badge.
Overall
We’re really appreciating the way Georgie and Fabrizio are approaching the expansion of their business. Independent bottles is an increasingly crowded world and it’s becoming harder and harder to find a target niche or differentiate yourself.
Bringing interesting quality products from around the world which are less renowned, whilst building a crowd of subscribers and returning customers sounds like a very good idea.
We enjoyed these drams and their presentations. Depending on where you are, price points for the age might be not the most attractive, but they’re definitely worth a try.
Drams
and more...
Today's drams
- #1 Stauning Distillery (371 bottles) – 52%
- #3 Kyrö Distillery (361 bottles) – 52%
- #4 M&h Distillery (398 bottles) – 57%
- #7 Westward Distillery (396 bottles) – 50%