A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Belgian Owl Evolution whisky I tasted as part of a tasting pack. Evolution was John’s favourite of all five samples. My favourite was the Belgian Owl Passion single malt whisky.
You can read more about Belgian Owl in my previous blog post. I also captured my notes on Identity a couple of years ago. Today I want to look at Etienne Bouillon’s sustainable farming philosophy behind Belgian Owl. Etienne is passionate about Belgium and the soil and spent time with Jim McEwan at Bruichladdich distillery.
The focus is very much on the terroir; 2-eared spring barley is grown in the region around Hesbaye. Nature is left to take its course around the fields where the barley is grown. Water for the distillery comes straight from a 38 m deep well right next to the distillery.
There are two stills from the Caperdonich distillery installed at the distillery. Care is shown not only in the growing and distilling process but also in the choice of casks. Belgian Owl whisky is non-chill-filtered and without artificial colouring. Over the years, the care and attention to quality have been recognised with many awards.
The Belgian Owl Passion is an unseated single cask edition, and each bottling series is unique. Passion was aged for between 36 – 60 months in American white oak.
COUNTRY: Belgium
ABV: 46%
COLOUR: Bright gold
NOSE: Creamy condensed milk, baked pear drizzled with honey, oak with faint citrus hints. Warming and inviting.
PALATE: Banana and tropical fruit, bits of grilled pineapple, hints of wood and vanilla with shortbread creaminess. Big and bold with soft pepper and citrus. I finished my first glass without water. Just delicious and drinkable.
FINISH: Medium length with a creamy sweetness and black pepper.
RATING: EXCELLENT
Just like the Identity, Passion has that distinctive Belgian Owl fruity sweetness balanced with soft spices that are the defining characteristic of this Belgian distillery. This sweeter dram suited my sweet palate very well.
Now I need to capture my tasting notes for the Belgian Owl Intense release. I also saw the new bottling from this distillery. They are gorgeous! I want to buy and finish a bottle just to have the beautiful bottle!
Sample disclosure: I received this whisky from the SA Belgian Owl team. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.
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