Stauning R.Y.E. Maple Sirup Cask

Powerful Danish Rye with Vermont Maple Sweetness

Stauning R.Y.E. Maple Syrup Cask Studio Series returns in 2026 as a limited edition inspired by one of the Danish distillery’s most celebrated rye experiments. Stauning’s bold, spice-driven R.Y.E. whisky is combined with casks that previously held Vermont maple syrup, creating an expression where rich sweetness meets warm rye spice, toasted oak and remarkable depth.

Bottled at a powerful 53.5% ABV, the whisky retains impressive balance thanks to the rounded sweetness contributed by the maple syrup casks. Only ten casks were selected for this release, resulting in approximately 2,500 bottles. That combination of rarity, unconventional maturation and distinctly Danish craftsmanship makes this an exciting release for both dedicated Stauning followers and enthusiasts searching for modern rye whisky with genuine individuality.

Production – Rye, Fire & Maple

The whisky begins with Danish rye and barley sourced from local farms surrounding Stauning on Denmark’s west coast. Every grain is floor malted and kiln dried at the distillery, preserving one of the traditional production techniques that has defined Stauning since its earliest days.

After fermentation, the spirit is double distilled in 24 small copper pot stills heated directly by flame. Direct firing creates intense temperatures and contributes additional roasted, caramelised and spicy complexity to the new make spirit.

Maturation begins in heavily charred virgin American oak casks, building structure alongside vanilla, oak and warming spice. The whisky is then transferred into casks that previously contained Vermont maple syrup. This finishing stage introduces deeper sweetness and a soft, rounded character while allowing the natural peppery personality of rye to remain clearly present. The final whisky is bottled without added colour and without chill filtration.

Taste & Aroma – Dark Caramel and Warm Spice

The aroma opens with maple syrup, vanilla and warming baking spices, quickly joined by dark caramel and toasted oak. Beneath the sweeter notes are hints of dried fruit and freshly baked rye bread, adding complexity and reinforcing the whisky’s grain-driven character.

The palate is rich, concentrated and creamy. Caramelised apple and ripe plum combine with dark caramel, vanilla and toasted wood before rye spice begins to emerge. Despite the substantial 53.5% ABV, the maple cask finish provides a rounded texture that keeps the whisky surprisingly approachable.

The finish is long and warming, with lingering oak, spice, fruit and caramel sweetness. A peppery rye note remains through the final moments, balancing the almost dessert-like richness from the Vermont maple casks.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy Stauning R.Y.E. Maple Syrup Cask neat first, preferably in a tulip-shaped whisky glass. At 53.5% ABV, a few drops of water can reveal additional fruit, vanilla and spice while softening some of the alcohol intensity.

Its combination of sweetness and rye spice also makes it an excellent after-dinner whisky, particularly alongside dark chocolate, caramelised nuts or apple-based desserts. For cocktail enthusiasts, its concentration and maple character can also provide an exceptional foundation for a premium Old Fashioned.

About Stauning Whisky

Stauning Whisky was founded in 2005 by nine friends in the small West Jutland village of Stauning. Their ambition was to create whisky with a distinctly Danish identity using local grain, traditional craftsmanship and a willingness to question established whisky conventions.

Today, the distillery is internationally recognised for locally grown rye and barley, floor malting and its collection of small direct-fired copper pot stills. Experimentation remains fundamental to the Stauning philosophy, particularly through unusual cask finishes and interpretations of rye whisky.

The distillery has earned multiple major honours at the World Whiskies Awards and played an important role in establishing Danish whisky internationally. Maple Syrup Cask represents Stauning at its most curious and adventurous.

Studio Series – The Return of an Award-Winning Favourite

Studio Series is Stauning’s collection of limited releases created to explore unusual casks, new flavour combinations and experimental interpretations of the distillery’s core whisky styles. Maple Syrup Cask also revisits an idea with an important place in Stauning history.

An earlier single cask, cask #517, combining Stauning R.Y.E. with a Vermont maple syrup cask finish was named World’s Best Single Cask Single Rye at the 2023 World Whiskies Awards and quickly sold out. The rye and maple cask concept received further recognition the following year as Best Danish Rye. The 2026 edition takes the idea into a ten-cask batch limited to just 2,500 bottles.