Wild Weasel Finest Blend

Wild Weasel is a Belgian whisky that was launched in August 2014 by the Wilderen Distillery, which started out centuries ago as a brewery. Brouwerij & Alcoholstokerij Wilderen (as they are calling themselves today) can be found in the village of the same name, between Hasselt and Tienen, a proverbial stone’s throw from Zoutleeuw. They are best known for their Double You gin. As for whisky, the offerings are limited to the Finest Blend at 40%, a single malt at 46% and a Cask Strength release. I will try the first one, composed of single malt from Wilderen with grain from Rademacher, another Belgian distiller. The nose is a bit weird in the sense that it is not sweet at all, but rather umami. I smell potato mash and chicken broth. Maggi’s Mix of Herbs. After a few moments, some marzipan emerges. But it is totally devoid of fruit, unless you can wait for a full ten minutes, which will then offer up a bit of baked apples. It is much nicer on the palate, with some apples and pears, nuts and a floral edge, but it quickly turns candy-like sweet. I am reminded of violets, the purple candy that I loved as a kid. But the grain whisky – the Lambertus from Rademacher – is very, very obvious on the palate, which is not to its advantage. I am not very fond of the Lambertus grain (it has, imho, still quite a ways to go). The finish is medium long and the sweetest part of this whisky, but in my book, this ship has already sunk. Not my cuppa. Candy on steroids, but too rough and without any depth to be interesting.