Vintage King Oscar

King Oscar Vintage. I never knew such a thing existed other than the tin of King Oscars' that I occasionally find in the back of a cupboard. That is until this past December when King Oscar ran their annual Haiku contest. Select winners were awarded a tin of Vintage 1999 King Oscar Sardines. I was fortunate enough to win such a tin. I was also fortunate enough to receive three tins from other sardine Eaters that could not bring themselves to eat a tin of vintage sardines.  Up until then, I thought only the French aged their sardines. It seems Norwegians have their little fish secrets--at least starting in 1993, when King Oscar first started aging Sardines. From KO Facebook:

 "Every year since 1993 when the tradition began, King Oscar produces a small batch of "Vintage Bristling Sardines" from what is considered the best catch of any particular year. This short run is sold in select stores in Norway, otherwise we store small quantities for special occasions".

King Oscar Vintage Sardines come in a set of three in a gift box that includes a certificate with information about the fishing boat, along with the place and date of the catch. Only receiving one tin, I did not receive a box or certificate. I would of like to, honestly. I wonder what they did with all the empty boxes? 

Photo: Via King Oscar product page. http://www.kingoscar.no/produkt/argangssardiner/

I've always been a fan of wrapped label tinned sardines, which are more popular in Portugal. Many sardine canneries are using plastic-wrapped tins.

label from the 2013 year. Photo via King Oscar Facebook.



Only having aged sardines from France, I was curious as to what to expect from King Oscar. My first thought was how are they aging them? Setting them in a dark warehouse somewhere perhaps... are they being flipped periodically throughout the years? I'm a huge fan of aged sardines, especially French ones. 

Popping open the tin, I am met with an aroma of olive oil. In King Oscar fashion, they are a tin of two layers. All else in appearance is what you would expect from a tin of King Oscar. 

    Removing the fish from the tin, using the server, they held their shape well.  Pretty little fish.

Being a tin of "Vintage" King Oscar, I found it only suiting to break out the vintage King Oscar sardine prong. (Being made in Germany, I'm curious about the year this device was made?)

These sardines were softer in texture compared to the ones not aged. The little fish broke apart pretty easily while attempting to impale the little fish. 

It was time to go back to the Sardine Server to get these little tender fish out of the tin. 

The fish themselves had a very mild flavor. The olive oil balanced out nicely. Like wine, olive oil in any given year can make or break a can of sardines, sometimes contributing to a bitter taste or some may even call it a green taste. I took my time to consume the tin. It was a very good treat indeed. While a tin from 1999 may seem like an old tin, I've had tins much older. The quality of the these fish and tin remains great. I would like to see these offered in the States, but I'm sure it would be based on consumer wants or willingness. 

Bottom of tin: Norway



Sadly, most Americans live by that expiration date printed on food packages. A day before or after, and people trash it. Aged sardines may be a hard sale to the mass public. If you have never tried aged sardines, as I've said numerous times, "You owe it to yourself." While you may not be able to find some vintage King Oscars nearby, you should be able to locate some aged French sardines at a specialty store or even online. Or, you can age your own. I always have some tins on hand that's ageing. I flip them about every 6 months. Just store them in a dark, cool location. 

I like to keep sardines for aging in old military ammo cans. The size will determine how many tins they will hold. (Olive oil seems to be the medium of choice for aging sardines.) I use a medium-sized ammo can. Each ammo can hold 27 tins of sardines.

vintage, King Oscar, 1999. Vintage Stanley thermos around 1913.

With the Vintage Sardines, who could resist some photo ops. Sardine food porn at its finest.

For more info on King Oscars aged sardines click HERE

King Oscar offers different variety of flavors of little fish in different areas.

Check out their other sites for more info.


Click HERE to see what is offered in other countries. 


Rather it's aged sardines or a tin fresh off the shipping truck, keep popping those tins, Sardine Eaters!

SEASON-48

SEASON: IN OLIVE OIL


APPEARANCE:


NUTRITION:
Calories- 164
Fat Cal- 108
Total Fat- 12g
Sat. Fat- 4g
Cholest.- 110mg
Sodium- 340mg
Protein- 14g

PRODUCT OF:
Norway

INGREDIENTS:
Smoked Brisling Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
The slight smoke aroma upon opening, Nine small Fish to the tin. A semi-firm fish, the smoke flavor takes away from the Fish. Crunchy spine, the texture reminds me of eating sand, gritty. After taste is a little off-putting, at first like a container after taste, after that, not a bad tin. I may eat again. 3 1/2 sardines.







SEASON: IN TOMATO SAUCE


APPEARANCE:


NUTRITION:
Calories- 230
Fat Cal- 150
Total Fat- 17g
Sat Fat- 8g
Cholest.- 110mg
Sodium- 300mg
Sugars- 3g
Protein- 16g

PRODUCT OF:
Norway

INGREDIENTS:
Lightly Smoked Sardines, Water, Tomato Puree, Sugar, Salt

PRICE:
1.89

OVERALL:
Upon opening, they have a very appealing appearance with a very faint tomato aroma. A slight wang hits you on the first bite. Eight Fish to the tin. A subtle sardine flavor hits you after the wang goes away, with a plain bland taste followed up in the rear. They are semi-soft Fish. The spine is undetected. Not a bad tin, not one I would seek out ether. I would eat again. 2 1/2 Sardines.




SEASON: IN PURE OLIVE OIL


APPEARANCE:


NUTRITION:
Calories- 240
Fat Cal- 120
Total Fat- 14g
Sat. Fat- 6g
Cholest- 80mg
Sodium- 220mg
Protein- 27g

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
I do not care for the "NEW! EASY OPEN LID!" just don't feel right. I don't believe these would have a long shelf life as the "not so easy-open lid" two large, scaled, very neat, clean, looking sardines to the tin. The fish are a tad on the soft side and on the dry side. Bones are not detectable. A very mild flavor fish. Wouldn't eat again. Fish crumbles while removing from tin. No sardines


SEASON: IN EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL


APPEARANCE:


NUTRITION:
Calories- 173
Fat Cal- 117
Total Fat- 13g
Sat. Fat- 5g
Cholest- 120mg
Sodium- 340mg
Protein- 14g

PRODUCT OF:
Norway

INGREDIENTS:
Lightly Smoked Sardines, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:
2.99

OVERALL:
No Aroma upon opening. Fifteen sardines to the tin. A firm little fish with a slightly sour taste. Bones are not noticeable. Salt is very prominent, very salty. All possess their tails. Not sure if I would eat again. 3 Sardines




SEASON: LIGHTLY SMOKED IN OLIVE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Calories- 200
Fat Cal- 140
Total Fat- 16g
Sat. Fat- 6g
Cholest.- 70mg
Sodium- 360mg
Protein- 16g

PRODUCT OF:
Scotland

INGREDIENTS:
Smoked Sprats, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
A very faint oil aroma hits you on popping. Ten small Fish to the tin. A mild-tasting fish; not a spiny fish; a clean tasting Fish. No strong taste or after taste. Oil flavor is present, yet, not overpowering. The texture is a little dry, an almost fine coarse texture. I would eat again. 4 sardines.

SEASON: SKINLESS & BONELESS IN WATER

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Calories- 130
Fat Cal- 40
Total Fat- 5g
Sat. Fat- 3g
Cholest.- 35mg
Sodium- 50mg
Protein- 22g

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Water

PRICE:

OVERALL:
A very faint fish aroma upon opening. Five Fish to the tin. This tin is literally a blank canvas in the world of tinned Fish, with no oil to add to any flavor. A tad dry. It's pure meat, an immaculate tasting fish; a very meaty fish; an excellent textured fish. These could be used in any recipe. These would be great to use your own sauce on.
 If you are a sardine purist (I know a lot of you Sardine Eaters' are), you will not like these. If you like tuna, you will love these. They are like eating tuna. I love sardines of all shapes, sizes, and colors, naked or not. I will eat these again.
5 sardines.

SEASON: IN WATER

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 160
Fat Cal- 80
Total Fat- 9g
Sat. Fat- 4.5g
Cholest.- 75mg
Sodium- 80mg
Protein- 19g

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Water

PRICE:

OVERALL:
Six patchy, scaled Fish to the tin. No strong aroma upon opening. Fish is slightly dry, not a spiny fish. Fish possess a good flavor; no fishy taste or after. Scales not noticeable; a roe-filled Fish. I would eat again. 4 1/2 Sardines

SEASON: IN TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 90
Fat Cal- 2
Total Fat- 5g
Sat. Fat- 1.5g
Cholest.- 40mg
Sodium- 220mg
Protein- 10g

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato Sauce, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
Three Fish to the tin. No strong aroma upon opening. A very firm fish; Fish are on the dry side. Tomato sauce has a sour note, no strong fishy taste or after. A roe-filled Fish. I would eat again. 3 1/2 Sardines

SEASON: SKINLESS & BONELESS IN PURE OLIVE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories-
Fat Cal-
Total Fat-
Sat. Fat-
Cholest.-
Sodium-
Protein-

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
A faint fish aroma upon opening. Four Fish to the tin. A firm textured Fish; a very light fish taste on the first bite. No strong after taste, oil flavor not noticeable. A meaty fish. I would eat again. 3 1/2 Sardines

SEASON: FILLETS IN LEMON GARLIC SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 1
Calories- 350
Fat Cal- 240
Total Fat- 27G
Sat. Fat- 8G
Cholest.- 45MG
Sodium- 310MG
Protein- 18G

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Lemon, Garlic, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
Garlic aroma hits you on opening. 5 fillets to the tin, a firm-textured fish. Garlic hits you on the first bite, being very detectable, yet the garlic does not overpower the Fish. A faint lemon flavor makes itself known, then disperses as quickly as it appeared. A nice thin slice of lemon rests on the bottom of the tin. A very clean tasting fish and after taste. (virtually no after taste) patches of scales and skin are present. If you give it to someone and tell them it was sardines, they may not believe you. A good tin for someone who is still not on the fence with sardines. I would eat again. 5 sardines

SEASON: FILLETS IN LEMON PEPPER SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 1
Calories- 350
Fat Cal- 240
Total Fat- 27G
Sat. Fat- 8G
Cholest.- 45MG
Sodium- 310MG
Protein- 18G

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Lemon, Red Pepper, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
A pepper aroma upon opening. % fillets to the tin. Pepper flavor hits you smoothly on the first bite. A sweet pepper, a very flavorful tin of Fish. Fillets are not dry. A very refreshing-tasting fish. A slice of lemon and a chunk of red pepper in the tin. No, after taste or Fish taste nowhere around. I would eat again. 5 sardines

SEASON: FILLETS IN SWEET AND TANGY SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 1
Calories- 370
Fat Cal- 270
Total Fat- 31G
Sat. Fat- 7G
Cholest.- 45MG
Sodium- 80MG
Protein- 17G

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Olive Oil, Vinegar, Water, Fresh Onions, Black Pepper, Clove, Oregano, Red Pepper, Salt


PRICE:

OVERALL:
Five fillets to the tin. A very faint oil aroma upon opening. A tart flavor hits you on the first bite, followed by a mellow sour aftertaste. A dry fish, no strong aftertaste. The sour/tangy note lingers after eating. a clean-tasting Fish. I would eat again. 4 Sardines

SEASON: Skinless & Boneless in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 2
Calories- 156
Fat Cal- 108
Total Fat- 12G
Sat. Fat- 3.5G
Cholest.- 35MG
Sodium- 110MG
Protein- 12G

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Salt


PRICE:

OVERALL:
A slight oil and fish aroma upon opening. Four Fish to the tin. A medium-textured fish. They hold their shape well while removing from tin. Slightly on the dry side. no strong flavors or after. 4 1/2 sardines

Bishul Yisroel




SEASON: Skinless & Boneless in Hot Sauce

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 2
Calories- 152
Fat Cal- 72
Total Fat- 8G
Sat. Fat- 2G
Cholest.- 25MG
Sodium- 460MG
Protein- 20G

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Water, Tomato Paste, Olive Oil, Salt, Vinegar, and Hot Sauce Flavor (cottonseed Oil, Oleoresin Capsicum)


PRICE:

OVERALL:
A faint tomato aroma upon opening. Three Fish to the tin. Fish falls apart while removed from tin. More of a tomato flavor than a hot-sauce one. Heat is subtle yet slowly creeps up. A nice, even mild heat. 4 1/2 sardines

Bishul Yisroel



SEASON:

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 2
Calories- 130
Fat Cal- 76
Total Fat- 8.5G
Sat. Fat- 1.5G
Cholest.- 45MG
Sodium- 200MG
Protein- 13G

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sunflower Oil, Salt


PRICE:

OVERALL:
a subtle, almost undetectable oil aroma upon opening. Three Fish to the tin. A meaty fish they are slightly on the dry side with a faint fishy aftertaste. One Fish was on the bitter side (due to inside contents). Tin needs something... bread or crackers. (not how I rate) 2 Sardines

SEASON:

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 2
Calories- 98
Fat Cal- 45
Total Fat- 5G
Sat. Fat- 1G
Cholest.- 45MG
Sodium- 200MG
Protein- 13G

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Water, Salt


PRICE:

OVERALL:
three large Fish to the tin. Scales are present, not noticeable. A meaty fish, not a spiny one. Fishy undertones are present, no lingering after taste. Tin would be better with crackers or in a dish. 2 1/2 sardines.

SEASON:

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 2
Calories- 100
Fat Cal- 45
Total Fat- 5G
Sat. Fat- 1G
Cholest.- 45MG
Sodium- 200MG
Protein- 13G

PRODUCT OF:
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Tomato Sauce, Salt


PRICE:

OVERALL:
A faint tomato aroma upon opening. Two large Fish to the tin. A watery tomato sauce with deep tomato undertones to it. Scales not noticeable; a soft textured fish. A mild-tasting fish. No strong fish flavor or after taste. 3 1/2 sardines.

SEASON:

 APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 1
Calories- 210
Fat Cal- 140
Total Fat- 15G
Sat. Fat- 5G
Cholest.- 65MG
Sodium- 500MG
Protein- 16G

PRODUCT OF:
Scotland

INGREDIENTS:
Brisling Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt


PRICE:

OVERALL:
A faint, almost undetectable smoke aroma upon opening. A firm-textured fish holds its shape well while removed from tin. Smoke compliments the Fish, no strong fish flavors or after. Not a spiny fish. 5 Sardines.

 APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 1
Calories-
Fat Cal-
Total Fat-
Sat. Fat-
Cholest.-
Sodium-
Protein-

PRODUCT OF:


INGREDIENTS:



PRICE:

SEASON: SPRATS IN EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL   (Date of tasting 24/11/2020

OVERALL:

NUTRITION:
SERV. 1
Calories-
Fat Cal-
Total Fat-
Sat. Fat-
Cholest.-
Sodium-
Protein-

PRODUCT OF: 

Latvia


INGREDIENTS:

Smoked Sprats, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Salt



PRICE:

2.09

OVERALL:

No strong aromas upon opening. A lovely tin of Fish. Seven Fish to the tin, A medium textured fish, the smoke flavor of the Fish is subtle. A mild tasting oil, no lingering after taste, not a spiny fish. Would eat again. 5 Sardines.