South Korea's playful yet pioneering Craftbros Brewery and Distillery has announced the second set of JEGI Friendship expressions, this time spotting a collaboration with Sweden's High Coast Distillery, known for its peated whiskies. The second round of the series will see a Korean-Swedish Double Malt Whisky in the form of a blend of Craftbros' South Korean Single Malt and High Coast's Swedish Peated Single Malt, as well as a IPA Newborn.

The new Craftbros JEGI High Coast features peated malt from High Coast, and is bottled at cask strength of 56.9% ABV. It is non-coloured and non-chill filtered. Details of the IPA Newborn to drop soon as well.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The floral aroma reminiscent of elderflower and freesia comes first, with the soft fruit aromas of peaches and citrus that mixes with its blossoms, reminding us of madeleines. The subtle aromas of tropical fruits like guava that is conveyed from the CraftBros Whisky and the smooth peat of High Coast Whisky combines to enhance the overall bouquet of the aroma.

Taste: Refreshing and soft texture, with a soft nuttiness reminiscent of pistachio and a spiciness at the right alcohol level, leaving the mouth full of the taste of enjoying cookies made of various nuts and cacao beans.

Finish: You can feel a finish that's longer than mid-length. A savory flavor of honey, the juiciness of red apple, and a star anise spiciness that mixes together to lead to a long finish, leaving a long lasting impression of a bright yet smooth feel.

"When I was young, I used to play Jegi with my neighbourhood friends and relatives around the Lunar New Year. When I played Jegi, the Jegi that fell down looked like a flower. I don't know if it was because Jegi was really shaped like a flower and looked pretty like a flower, or because I enjoyed playing with my friends as a child and so it looked pretty like a flower.

These days, I get along well with friends who make whisky. When I have fun with friends from other distilleries and drink whiskies that each of us has made, we often mix and drink our own whiskies. I also want to make a more delicious whisky by blend single malt whiskies. That’s what playing together is all about. Making delicious whisky is fun, blending each other’s whiskies with distillery friends is fun, and tasting and enjoying whisky is all fun. It’s like having fun together while kicking Jegi."

The series is hence named after the popular Korean children's game Jegi, where kids kick around a shuttlecock toy made with paper strips bound to a small anchor.

We were able to review the first JEGI series bottlings that saw a historic collaboration with fellow South Korean distillers Kimchangsoo and aged Soju-maker Soorok and have found that incredibly exciting and supremely tasty! 

| Read Review: Taste Testing Craftbros JEGI Series Collaboration With Kimchangsoo & Soorok; Including First Ever Double Malt Korean Whisky [REVIEWED WITH TASTING NOTES]

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team