The Stauning Private Cask #285 Heather is an extremely rare single-cask release from the renowned Danish distillery Stauning. Bottled at a robust cask strength of 58.36% ABV and limited to just 89 bottles, this single malt stands out for its unique Danish characteristic: The malt was not smoked with traditional peat, but over heather. The result is a fascinating combination of floral-sweet notes, dark chocolate, and a very smooth, aromatic smokiness. The cask maturation: This whisky was aged in a new American oak cask. The wood imparts an abundance of sweetness (vanilla, toffee), which harmonizes superbly with the chocolate notes of the distillate. The smoke: Unlike the previously discussed Kilkerran, which brings dense campfire smoke, the smoke here is more floral, herbaceous, and significantly gentler. Smoking with local heather gives the whiskey a unique, Danish coastal flair. Exclusivity: As a “Private Cask” and with the vintage year 2014 (bottled in 2018), this bottle is a true rarity today.