Spirits Inn Beringen 2024 - Old, odd and rare bottles

The annual spirits festival hosted by my local whisky club “Spirits Inn Beringen” never fails to deliver an unforgettable experience. Each year, enthusiasts are treated to a curated selection of old, rare and exceptional bottles that showcase the rich diversity of quality spirits. It's an opportunity to savour drams from bottles that may be elusive or beyond our usual budgets.

This year's event was no exception, offering a glimpse into the world of whisky and other distilled delights. Among the standout moments:

Aerts Paradijs, a local distiller where I sampled another progression from barrel to bottle, witnessing the transformation of flavours from typical bread and dough notes to robust vanilla. But the real surprise came from a new experiment, Jeroen ingeniously crafted a delightful Marc (Grappa) using leftover grapes from Beau Marais winery.

My friend Chris delighted us with a selection of whiskies from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, each bearing whimsical names evoking flavours like "library dust." 

His recent trip to Scotland yielded a memorable experience at Deanston Distillery, which I was fortunate enough to taste — a truly delicious dram aged in a scraped and recharred barrel. This is whisky, but I could almost detect the typical cotton candy aroma you sometimes get in Tequila. 

The dedicated whisky enthusiasts of Caskaid shared their passion for sourcing and bottling unique spirits, all while supporting worthy causes. Their Ardbeg dram, with its initial burst of cookie notes, was a testament to their discerning tastes and philanthropic endeavours.

However, stealing the spotlight was a remarkable find: a cognac distilled in 1910. While most cognacs are aged for a fraction of that time, this exceptional bottling spent an astonishing 112 years maturing in oak, resulting in sensational and unparalleled flavours — a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As always, attending such an event is an immersive journey that words can hardly capture. 

Until next year — will we see you there?

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.