Duvel Distilled 4 Years

What happens when you transform a Belgian cult beer into a distilled beverage? Male mass hysteria? Check! What happens when the brewer decides to market only a very limited supply of bottles? Male mass hysteria? Double check!

The first Duvel Edition caused a stampede in a quiet little Belgian town. The whole event even jammed the traffic. Result: A lot of unsatisfied customers and some extra income for a few cunning eBayers (and eBay of course).

Identity Card Duvel Distilled 4 Years

• Official bottling from Duvel-Moortgat Brewery, distilled at Filliers Distillery
• 4-year-old Belgian single malt whisky
• Alcohol 40% ABV

Naughty little devil

Tasting notes

Colour: The liquid does not lie about his age. A pale straw whisky, slightly paler than the famous beer.

Nose: The nose start is shy. Soft fruitiness and sweet. It releases some vanilla and a bit of pineapple. Water refreshes the flavours. Lots of lemon zest and nectar. This little devil does not have any similarities with his foamy brother. At least, not for an amateur nose like mine.

Taste: The sweetness continues in the mouth. The flowers return. Nectar and soft fruits. I'm thinking of melon, ripe bananas and apricots.

Finish: The finish is quite long for such a youngster with a slight hint of oak and whiffs of tropical fruit.

Conclusion: The Duvel Distilled launch created quite some buzz. This sample has a lot of qualities. It's nice, young. But it could be a great summer aperitif. I probably would have paid € 39 for the 6-year-old. But the € 150 to € 200 bottles on eBay were far too expensive or it's age and it's quality.

The hype settled down and I could happily afford myself a few decent (and better) additions for the cupboard with that money.