Review: Jeppson’s Barrel-Aged Malort 2026

Malört: You know it. You love it. Well I kinda love it, an opinion that has raised more than a few eyebrows about my sanity but for which I am unapologetic.

That aside, here’s the scoop: Each year, Jeppson’s releases a special edition of its classic product called Barrel-Aged Malört (BAM), which, as the name suggests, is an oak-aged version of the original. Each year the release features a blend of Malört liqueurs which have been aged in single-use bourbon casks for one to three years. The combination pairs the bracing bitterness of Malört with the softening effect of bourbon barrels, making for a unique — and rare — spin on the classic.

Jeppson’s Barrel-Aged Malort 2026 Review

The results are solid, taking Malört in a slightly new direction though stopping short of reinventing the wheel. On the nose, the classic mix of grapefruit peel and cigarette ash remains dominant, with anise and fennel notes perking up after. You can certainly catch a hint of vanilla and caramel that is absent in rack Malört, too — though it’s decidedly mild and secondary in character against the backdrop of the underlying spirit.

The body of BAM reveals itself as modestly creamier and sweeter, making for a rather juicier and more rounded experience in the mouth. Again, it’s not dramatic, but it is noticeable, more liqueur-like with its licks of vanilla and milk chocolate, all with a slightly more syrupy construction. None of the new flavors are of course any match for what Malört is already bringing to the table, and the finish of BAM is just as epic — minutes of enduring, grapefruit-heavy bitterness clinging to every part of the palate and — if you’re not in the right frame of mind — chewing at the brain.

I don’t know if Barrel-Aged Malört is a step up from OG Malört, but I did appreciate the slight change of scenery it provides — and the nod it makes at least in the general direction of dessert. Hopefully you won’t have to fight your dad over it.

70 proof.

B+ / $33

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