🥃 Mackmyra

Mackmyra is a Swedish single malt whisky brand from the area around Gävle, founded in 1999 as the country's first whisky distillery. The company is known for casks made from Swedish oak. After bankruptcy in August 2024, its assets were acquired by Lennart Hero and the investment firm No. 1 Capital.

History. The company was founded in 1999. According to available information, production began in 2002 in the former buildings of the Mackmyra bruk (ironworks), and the first limited releases of the Preludium series appeared in 2006. Production later expanded to a second site at Valbo, near Gävle. On 19 August 2024, Mackmyra Svensk Whisky AB filed for bankruptcy at the Gävle District Court, citing weak profitability and cash flow. In October 2024 the deal with the new owners was completed; they said they would keep the staff and the relationships with cask owners.

How it is made. The whisky is made from barley malt. Sweden has no separate geographical indication for whisky, so the general EU regulation 2019/787 applies: whisky must be made from cereals, from spirit below 94.8% ABV, matured for at least three years in wooden casks of no more than 700 litres, and have an ABV of at least 40%. Mackmyra uses, among others, casks of Swedish oak.

Style and range. The core release, First Edition, is 46.1% ABV, is not chill-filtered, and is matured in a mix of casks: former bourbon casks and Swedish oak. Reviewers describe it as light and fruity, with honey and vanilla.

Why this matters to you. After the change of ownership, read the label carefully: releases, ages and strengths differ. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.