Whisky Voices: Henric Molin
This interview is part of my ongoing Whisky Voices Series, where I sit down with leading voices in the whisky world, from distillers and writers to ambassadors and innovators, to capture their unfiltered thoughts on heroes, villains, surprises, trends, and wishes.
For this edition, I spoke with Henric Molin, the founder, owner, and Master Distiller at the Swedish whisky distillery Spirit of Hven. A chemist by training and a provocateur by instinct, Henric has long occupied a singular position in Nordic whisky: uncompromising, playful, and deeply rooted in both science and craft.
Whisky Hero
“There are so many,” Henric smiled, “but if I need to mention one, I would do that three times:
First, J.R. Ewing [remember the 1980s TV show Dallas?] for teaching the world that drinking whisky was cool.
Second, Harry Riffkin, the man who showed me the chemistry behind the art.
And third, John McDougall, the one who got me into the handcraft.”
A trio that perfectly reflects Henric’s worldview: culture, science, and manual skill. All equally essential to great whisky.
Whisky Villain
“Captain Haddock; for occasionally being sober,” he laughed, referencing Hergé, creator of Tintin. “And of course, the temperance movement, for talking badly about our medicine.”
Whisky Surprise
“For me, it was visiting St. George Spirits in the late 1990s,” Henric recalled. “That visit made me realize whisky could be made in a totally new way, creating further dimensions of flavour and reaching new markets.”
Whisky Trend
“The Nordic whisky scene,” Henric said without hesitation. “It is the emerging star in the global spirits market, showing provenance of origin with innovation and fun.”
A concise endorsement of a movement he helped pioneer long before it became fashionable.
Whisky Wish
Henric’s final wish was unapologetically bold. “That whisky would be classified as naturopathic medicine, tax-free, and sold in all convenience stores,” he grinned. “And that some of the world’s leaders would drink more whisky! It would probably make them more friendly and peaceful.”
Only Henric Molin could end an interview by proposing whisky as both medicine and diplomacy.
Sláinte!
- Thomas
