900 Years in the Making: A Shetland Whisky Tasting in the Pyrenees

• Event: Private Tasting - Lo Mas Pare Cave, Saint Laurent de Cerdans, Pyrenees
• Date: 03/09/2026
• Attendees: 10 guests from across Europe and Middle East
• Hosted by: Don Scott, Hexagon Holdings
• Venue Host: Michael Holland, Lo Mas Pare
• Theme: Shetland Whisky Appreciation Evening

On a September evening deep in the Pyrenees, we found ourselves in a magnificent subterranean cave at Lo Mas Pare in Saint Laurent de Cerdans. With stone walls towering above, candlelit chandeliers casting warm shadows, and glasses in hand, we embarked on a memorable evening sampling three exceptional Shetland whiskies from Lerwick Distillery.

The setting alone was extraordinary, not the sort of place you'd expect to be tasting premium Scotch whisky, but there we were, ready to discover what these northern isles had to offer.

Tasting 1

Up Helly Aa 2026, Blended Scotch, ABV 50%, Age 8 years

First Impression: A robust entry, strong, capable, the sort of whisky that walks into a room and doesn't apologise. This blended Scotch made a confident statement. At 50% ABV, it commands attention without being aggressive. Solid, assured, and an excellent introduction to the trio. A dependable choice for those seeking substance and character in their glass.

Tasting 2

NØRN Aurora, Blended Malt, ABV 47%, Age 8 years

Night One Winner: Exceptional. This one stopped the room. There's something about blended malts that can genuinely surprise you, the complexity, the way different malts chat to one another in the glass. The Aurora lived up to its name that evening; it was the darling of the night, the one everyone kept returning to. Smooth, satisfying, genuinely lovely. The group had spoken with their glasses: Aurora took the trophy on the first evening.

Tasting 3

NØRN Genesis 2026, Single Malt, ABV 47%, Age 12 years

Plot Twist: A dignified finish to the lineup. 12year old single malts deserve respect, and Genesis delivered it in spades, elegant, measured, contemplative. The very next evening, we reconvened for another sampling. Genesis had clearly been thinking about things overnight. The 12year old single malt had consolidated its position and, frankly, showed the Aurora who was boss. Sometimes whisky needs a moment to make its proper case.

The Final Verdict

In the end, all three proved thoroughly worthy of Michael Holland's shelves at Lo Mas Pare. You couldn't fault any of them. Whether seeking backbone and character (Up Helly Aa), beautifully approachable complexity (Aurora), or genuine depth and contemplative appeal (Genesis), Lerwick Distillery has covered all the bases. Each whisky tells its own story, from the robust confidence of the blended Scotch to the intricate dance of malts in Aurora, and the patient elegance of a 12year old single malt in Genesis. The real winner? Everyone who got to taste them in a 900year old cave in the Pyrenees.