Pirlot Kempisch Vuur

A new Belgian whisky! A single cask that yielded only 300 bottles of 50cl. Once you realize that it was a quarter cask from Laphroaig (Pirlot from Zandhoven, Belgium was able to acquire 15 of those) you will understand that this is peated whisky. That is a first for Belgium. The release was well attended by the press and the bottles are now sold out, but I was able to get my hands on two through a friend. Curious? Me too!

The nose is a mix of sweet malt, white fruit, plasticine and mild stable scent. The smokiness, on the nose at least, is quite limited. Sweet & sour. Some agrums shine through after leaving the whisky to breathe for a few minutes. Reminds me a bit of a wine finish, in fact. Very nice, considering the young age.

The mouth feel is good. Round and creamy. On the palate the typical smokiness of Laphroaig develops immediately. It is simply unmistakable. This is very layered and surprisingly mature in taste. Sweet versus salty with some soot in the middle. Light touch of plastic, as if I have a ballpoint between my teeth as I sometime do at the office, if you know what I mean.

The finish is surprisingly long, smoky and sweet. At the death, a soft salty uprising occurs.

What an entrance! While most of the character is propably due to the small casks from Laffie on which this whisky matured (or is that finished?), it is definitely a great spirit. Bottles sold for 54 EUR. Sold out by now.