Company History

• Myken Distillery was founded in 2014 by Roar Larsen and Trude Tokle, who were stranded by a storm on a sailing trip along the coast and wished to revive the isolated island of Myken.
• All production, storage and bottling take place in the old fishing harbour on Myken, and the distillery is described as being "as remote as possible" with the company as part of the island community and the maritime landscape.
• Production started at the end of 2014; in May 2015 they had filled their 9th cask, and two of them were preserved for the first 10-year-old single malt.
• In 2019 two-thirds of the base malt were Norwegian, making Ocean Heart 25/1 edition historic as the first whisky made with Norwegian barley and adjusted deliveries in the years to follow.

Production Details

• All processes – production, storage and bottling – take place on Myken in the old fishing harbour; the source water is desalinated seawater.
• The whisky is slowly distilled in small copper pot stills and ages in the warehouse known as Whisky Cathedral.
• First 10 Years is distilled over an open flame in copper pot stills and matured in 2 x 200-litre first-fill ex-bourbon casks (Maker's Mark recommended by co-master blender Thorslund Kagge).
• The production uses desalinated seawater and small batches in unique cask exchanges; some batches are finished in smaller casks (30–50 L) ex-sherry or ex-bourbon to impart finishing.
• No colours are added, and the whiskies are non-chill-filtered.
• Some products (e.g., Ocean Heart) are produced with a greater emphasis on the share of Norwegian barley varieties and have been adapted to a 700 ml bottle.

Whisky Products

• Core Whisky
• Ocean Heart: first core whisky; unpeated with malted barley; ferments and distills slowly; 700 ml bottle; ex-bourbon cask; aged 6 years and more; two-thirds Norwegian barley (first purchase of Norwegian barley in 2019); ABV around 47%.
• Character: maritime, sea-inspired profile with a distinct oceanic influence.
• Special Whisky
• First 10 Years: 10-year-old single malt; unpeated; desalinated seawater used; distilled slowly over an open flame in copper pot stills; matured in 2 x 200 L first-fill ex-bourbon casks (Maker's Mark); 700 ml; ABV 47%.
• Sea Mist: lightly peated and unpeated malt, matured in ex-bourbon casks of American oak; finished with a light finish in ex-Pineau des Charentes casks to add sweetness and roundness; moderate smoke profile, vanilla, citrus and fresh fruits; long, peppery finish; 700 ml; ABV 47%.
• Gin of the Sea
• Norwegian gin made with local island botanicals; 700 ml bottle; ABV 47%.
• Ocean Heart 25/1 edition
• A historic edition of Ocean Heart; unpeated; malted barley aged for 6 years and 2 months; aged in 200 L ex-bourbon casks; ca. 2/3 Norwegian barley; finished partly in smaller casks (30–50 L) previously used for Myken whisky; 700 ml bottle; ABV 47%.

Tasting Notes

• Sea Mist: moderate smoke, balanced by vanilla, citrus and fresh fruits; creamy caramel notes with a touch of salt; long and peppery finish.
• Ocean Heart: unpeated style with maritime character and Norwegian barley (specific tasting notes are not detailed in the material).
• First 10 Years: unpeated; detailed tasting notes not provided in the material.
• Gin Of The Sea: gin notes not specified in the text; presented as a Nordic gin with local botanicals.

Events and News

• Whisky Cathedral functions as a warehouse and tasting venue, and often hosts concerts, art exhibitions and whiskey tastings.
• Current tastings and guided tours in Whisky Cathedral are offered daily at 15:00.
• Summer: tours on weekdays (Monday to Saturday) at 15:00 in the season, June 13 – August 15; contact for exclusive tours outside the season; possibility to experience the island year-round.

Philosophy and Values

• Focus on quality and craftsmanship with a clear respect for the island's history and the maritime environment.
• Desalinated seawater, slow distillation in small copper stills and the art of maturing in unique, high-quality casks.
• No added colour and non-chill-filtered, signaling naturalness and integrity in the product.
• "Arctic Wilderness Distilled" and Whisky Cathedral as the centerpiece for experience, learning and community.