In recent years, we’ve witnessed an exciting trend of collaborations between breweries and distilleries. This evolution is a positive one, as both industries work with similar ingredients to create delicious beverages. More importantly, they enhance each other’s products in unique ways.
Distillers age their spirits in barrels, which are then lent to breweries to be filled with beer. The beer absorbs the residual spirit notes, and once emptied, the barrels return to the distillery. The spirit is then aged in these beer-infused barrels, soaking up the beer’s unique flavours.
A perfect example of this is the collaboration between Teeling Whiskey and the Belgian Duvel Brewery. Bottled at 46%, this limited edition whiskey is remarkably smooth and easy to sip.
I had the pleasure of attending a Masterclass for the launch of this new bottling. We tasted the original Teeling Whiskey alongside the Duvel-influenced edition, pairing them with both the classic Duvel beer and the special '666' Duvel beer.
If I were to describe this limited edition whiskey, I’d call it an ‘aperitif-style’ whiskey. It boasts a crisp and refreshing profile, and compared to the standard bottling (with rum barrel finish), it seems to have shed the sweet and fruity notes.
After the tasting, we enjoyed some tasty sandwiches before embarking on a tour of the Duvel Brewery. It was fascinating to see the craftsmanship that thrives in this large brewery. They create exceptional beer with just water, barley, yeast, and hops.While my followers know I’m not usually a beer enthusiast, I can certainly appreciate a well-crafted product.
Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations. Photo of me by M. Soberon.