Kempisch Vuur 3 Year Old Single Cask L2

You may remember the launch of the Belgian single malt Kempisch Vuur (Campian Fire) way back in April 2016. Distillery Pirlot had filled 15 quarter casks from Laphroaig with his own spirit and bottled the first one then, which I found very special and quite interesting. Later on in April of the same year Kempisch Vuur L2 was bottled, again at 46%. Let’s find out if there is a difference. Well, the nose is a lot less sweet and sour that its predecessor and the smokiness is less outspoken. The white fruit and stable scent is there, but the most prominent aroma here is plasticine. Mind you, I do not think this is an off note at all. It is a lot sweeter with loads of caramel. The mouthfeel is very good, a bit fatty. The peat is now unmistakable and even offers some saltiness and earthy notes, as if I have some mud in my mouth. Sounds crazy, but is quite nice. Sweet and sour as if from agrums and Granny Smith apples, but with a big spiciness. Very good! The finish is wonderfully long and sweet, smoky and spicy. Clearly a sister of L1 (doh!), but if you put them head-to-head the difference is quite noticeable. I find this one just a tad better, but since I don’t deal in half points, it get the same score.