August 17th Brutus 5 Year Old 2012
Cough Syrup
0 260
Review by @markjedi1
- Brand: August 17th
- ABV: 48%
This Brutus is a single cask release at cask strength of this ‘Belgian’ single malt August 17th. It matured for 5 years (the ‘regular’ August 17th only 3 years). I have put Belgian in parentheses as this is actually distilled across the border in France by a befriended cognac producer. It is made according to a recipe from Thierry Van Renterghem (also known for his GemBlueGin), but that does not make it a Belgian whisky, now does it? You will not be surprised to learn that it matured on a former cognac cask.
The nose reveals a malty but dusty heart, toffee and wood. I even smell the cognac, but it is not to this light spirit’s advantage.
The body is oily. It is more a banana liqueur than a single malt on the palate, as far as I am concerned. And there is a medicinal touch (think clear cough syrup). A soft development of smoke… could peat have been used? Whatever, does not matter, this simply is not good. The second sip even turns it somewhat astringent and gives a chemical sweetness and wood glue.
The finish is medium long, a bit smoky, but the cough syrup lingers, making me reach for a glass of water.
I am willing to believe this was made according to old traditions, as it says on their website. And the packaging is quite nice to look at. But the liquid is mediocre at best. No matter how chauvinistic I tried to look at this, it’s just not my cuppa.
At least it's not Lambertus