I'll admit it freely: when I first encountered Spirit of Hven several years ago, I approached it with the cautious scepticism I reserve for any distillery operating outside the traditional whisky-producing nations. Swedish single malt? The phrase alone would have drawn raised eyebrows at any IWSC tasting panel a decade ago. But the landscape of world whisky has shifted dramatically, and producers from Scandinavia have been quietly making a case for themselves that demands serious attention.
The Merak — also designated Seven Stars No.2 — is part of Spirit of Hven's constellation-themed range of single malts. At 45% ABV, it sits at a strength that signals confidence without veering into cask-strength territory. This is a whisky bottled to be approachable yet substantial, and that balance tells you something about the intent behind it. There is no age statement here, which at £95.50 means the liquid needs to justify itself on character alone. In my experience, it does.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate a flavour wheel where my notes would do it injustice — this is a whisky that rewards patient, unhurried tasting, and I'd encourage anyone picking up a bottle to approach it without preconceptions shaped by Scotch or bourbon benchmarks. What I will say is that Swedish single malts, broadly speaking, tend to occupy a space that feels distinctly Northern European: there is often a clean, precise quality to the spirit, an almost architectural sense of structure. The Merak fits within that tradition while carrying enough individuality to stand apart from its siblings in the Seven Stars series.
At 45%, it has genuine weight on the palate without becoming aggressive. This is not a whisky that shouts. It speaks clearly and with purpose.
The Verdict
At just under £96, the Merak is not an impulse purchase, and it shouldn't be. This is a bottle for drinkers who have already explored the established regions and are looking for something that challenges their assumptions about where great single malt can come from. Spirit of Hven has built a reputation on craft-scale production and meticulous attention to process, and the Merak reflects that philosophy — it feels considered, deliberate, and genuinely interesting.
An 8 out of 10 feels right here. This is a whisky that earns respect through quality rather than heritage, and in a market increasingly saturated with mediocre NAS releases from established distilleries trading on name recognition alone, that counts for a great deal. It won't replace your favourite Speyside in the rotation, but it will remind you why you fell in love with whisky in the first place: because there is always something new worth discovering.
Best Served
Neat, in a Glencairn, at room temperature. Give it ten minutes after pouring before you nose it — Swedish malts of this style tend to open up considerably with a little air. If you find the 45% carries any heat on first sip, a few drops of still water will soften it without flattening the structure. I would avoid ice entirely; this is a whisky that rewards attention, not dilution.
Community Reviews
Marcus Chen
Interesting but not quite there for me
7/10
I wanted to love this more than I did. The nose is genuinely lovely — marzipan, vanilla, a hint of sea salt — but the finish drops off quicker than I'd like. It's a solid dram and I respect what Hven is doing with Swedish single malt, but at £95 I expected a bit more complexity. Would be curious to try it with a few drops of water.
4 February 2026
Finn OBrien
Interesting but not quite there for me
7/10
I wanted to love this more than I did. The nose is genuinely lovely — marzipan, vanilla, a hint of sea salt — but the finish drops off quicker than I'd like. It's a solid dram and I respect what Hven is doing with Swedish single malt, but at £95 I expected a bit more complexity. Would be curious to try it with a few drops of water.
4 February 2026
Sibel Nur
Interesting but not quite there for me
7/10
I wanted to love this more than I did. The nose is genuinely lovely — marzipan, vanilla, a hint of sea salt — but the finish drops off quicker than I'd like. It's a solid dram and I respect what Hven is doing with Swedish single malt, but at £95 I expected a bit more complexity. Would be curious to try it with a few drops of water.
4 February 2026
Olivia Park
Worth the splurge for something different
8/10
I'm always hunting for non-Scottish single malts and the Merak is a cracker. Creamy texture with notes of toasted almonds and a slightly coastal character that makes sense given the island distillery. My only gripe is availability — took me ages to find a bottle. If you're bored of reaching for the same Speysides every weekend, give this a go neat.
23 January 2026
Daniel Torres
Worth the splurge for something different
8/10
I'm always hunting for non-Scottish single malts and the Merak is a cracker. Creamy texture with notes of toasted almonds and a slightly coastal character that makes sense given the island distillery. My only gripe is availability — took me ages to find a bottle. If you're bored of reaching for the same Speysides every weekend, give this a go neat.
23 January 2026
Aria Kim
Worth the splurge for something different
8/10
I'm always hunting for non-Scottish single malts and the Merak is a cracker. Creamy texture with notes of toasted almonds and a slightly coastal character that makes sense given the island distillery. My only gripe is availability — took me ages to find a bottle. If you're bored of reaching for the same Speysides every weekend, give this a go neat.
23 January 2026
Emily Thomas
Sweden's best kept secret
9/10
Picked this up on a whim and wow, Spirit of Hven is doing something special. Loads of orchard fruit and gentle oak spice on the nose, with a honeyed sweetness that carries through the palate. At 45% it's perfectly balanced for sipping neat. Yes it's pricey at nearly a hundred quid but honestly I'd take this over plenty of Scottish malts at the same price point.
12 December 2025
Sara Lindstrom
Sweden's best kept secret
9/10
Picked this up on a whim and wow, Spirit of Hven is doing something special. Loads of orchard fruit and gentle oak spice on the nose, with a honeyed sweetness that carries through the palate. At 45% it's perfectly balanced for sipping neat. Yes it's pricey at nearly a hundred quid but honestly I'd take this over plenty of Scottish malts at the same price point.
12 December 2025
Nils Bergman
Sweden's best kept secret
9/10
Picked this up on a whim and wow, Spirit of Hven is doing something special. Loads of orchard fruit and gentle oak spice on the nose, with a honeyed sweetness that carries through the palate. At 45% it's perfectly balanced for sipping neat. Yes it's pricey at nearly a hundred quid but honestly I'd take this over plenty of Scottish malts at the same price point.
12 December 2025
Wei Zhang
Proper craft whisky
8/10
Had this at a tasting night and immediately tracked down a bottle. There's a real biscuity maltiness with dried apricot and light citrus peel that I keep coming back to. You can tell this is made by people who genuinely care about the spirit. The 45% ABV hits a sweet spot where you get plenty of flavour without any burn.
10 October 2025
Diana Cruz
Proper craft whisky
8/10
Had this at a tasting night and immediately tracked down a bottle. There's a real biscuity maltiness with dried apricot and light citrus peel that I keep coming back to. You can tell this is made by people who genuinely care about the spirit. The 45% ABV hits a sweet spot where you get plenty of flavour without any burn.
10 October 2025
Helena Kosta
Proper craft whisky
8/10
Had this at a tasting night and immediately tracked down a bottle. There's a real biscuity maltiness with dried apricot and light citrus peel that I keep coming back to. You can tell this is made by people who genuinely care about the spirit. The 45% ABV hits a sweet spot where you get plenty of flavour without any burn.
10 October 2025
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