Filiers 10yo Sherry Oak Matured

Filiers 10yo Sherry Oak Matured

Official bottling
Single malt - East Flanders
Copper brown

43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, dunnage, black pepper, raisins, oak chips, sandalwood, hints of pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, black pepper, rye bread, dunnage, dark chocolate, oak chips. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, rye bread, dark chocolate, black pepper, dunnage. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet, but with a peppery rye note that doesn’t quite work with the rest of the sweet sherry notes. Still, quite an interesting whisky, as Belgium whiskies tend for be.

Verdict:

I like this.

Belgian Owl 36 months First Fill Bourbon Cask

Belgian Owl 36 months First Fill Bourbon Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Liège
Pale yellow 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, leather, shoe polish, malted grains, white pepper, oak chips, honey, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour. Fried eggs, shoe polish, malted grains, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Oak chips, leather, cream, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Quite gritty and chemical, almost tarry. Smoke is ever present but not too acrid. There’s herbal, sometimes sulphurous notes as well. Odd but interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lambertus 5yo Tequila Cask Finish

Lambertus 5yo Tequila Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Liège
Yellow straw
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, wet stones, agave, smoke, fresh cut grass, tarragon, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Wet stones, talcum powder, cooked rice, lemon zest, tarragon, fresh cut grass, honey, raisins, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Cooked rice, malted grains, talcum powder, wet stones. 

Comments: 

A very feinty, flinty herbal dram. It’s got many liberally aspects, but also refreshing citrus and herbal notes. Very unusual, and unique in my experience.

Verdict:

I like this.

Belgian Owl 40 months

Belgian Owl 40 months

Official bottling
Single malt - Liège
Pale gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, green tea, marigolds, strawberry jam, malted grains, honey, wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Leather, fresh cut grass, key lime pie, marigolds, malted grains, green tea, hints of strawberry jam. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, key lime pie, cotton sheets, wet stones. 

Comments: 

This Belgian distillery has some of the old Caperdonich stills, and produces something very akin to Caperdonich, only its young. Floral, peppery and delicate. Very lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Duvel Moortgat 10yo 2011/2021 The Celebration Bottle

Duvel Moortgat 10yo 2011/2021 The Celebration Bottle 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Antwerp
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, strawberry jam, chestnuts, peanut butter, butterscotch, honey, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, raisins, black pepper, nutmeg, brown paper, rye bread, hints of honey. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, strawberry jam, raisins, rye bread, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Not strictly a whisky, this is distilled Duvel beer, so it contains hops. Nevertheless it’s great, pleasantly spicy, with some nutty, jammy notes to balance it out. I’d drink more of this stuff, but it’s quite rare.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.