Everything You Need to Know About the Rise of Belgian Single Malt Whisky

Although Belgium doesn’t have the centuries-old whisky tradition of Scotland or Ireland, whisky has been clearly on the rise there in recent years. And rightly so, because Belgian whisky is a joy to drink. Here’s a look at the rise of Belgian single malt whisky.

When you think of whisky, Scotch and Irish Pot Still likely come to mind. But the nectar of the gods is distilled all over the world. Our southern neighbors in Belgium are crafting surprisingly good whisky. Bottles that have won numerous international awards, including those from the renowned Filliers.

Filliers has a long distilling heritage. While Belgian whisky isn’t centuries old, jenever certainly is. When jenever fell out of favor, the distillery looked closely at emerging trends.

The Scots were making superb whisky, and the thought was: surely we can do that too. In 2007, Filliers announced the first Belgian whisky ever: a grain whisky called Goldlys.

In the years that followed, whisky’s popularity grew, and new distilleries began to spring up across the country.

The blend of international craftsmanship and local roots gives Belgian whiskies a distinct identity. Some distilleries lean into Belgian terroir, using locally grown barley and water from Belgian sources.

Belgian distilleries like Filliers also experiment with extended maturation in a variety of casks and with different grains. Filliers produces several rye whiskies and continues to push boundaries in cask maturation.

The distillery offers several age-statement whiskies matured in sherry casks. The Filliers 10 Year Old single malt was once known as the oldest in the country, but older releases are now available. Within Filliers’ sherry-matured range, the 15 Year Old is currently the oldest.

One thing is clear: Belgian producers aren’t afraid to experiment. They play with cask types (such as ex-wine or sherry casks) and with maturation conditions.

The latter gives Belgian single malts a distinctive flavor profile that can range from light and fresh to rich and complex.

Belgium’s whisky sector is not only raising the bar in quality but also expanding production and market reach. Belgium is cited as a market with strong growth in whisky exports. Given the number of awards Belgian whiskies are collecting, that’s no surprise.

Several Belgian single malts have already won awards on the international stage. Filliers’ 10 Year Old earned medals in 2020 and 2021, including at the International Spirits Challenge and the World Whiskies Awards. This year, the 10 Year Old and the Cask Strength took silver, while the 15 Year Old walked away with gold.

Despite the many distilleries now operating in Belgium, Belgian whisky is still on the ascent. In terms of trends, the Belgian industry is expected to follow the broader Scotch whisky world: more cask experimentation, bolder flavor profiles, and older age statements.

Filliers Distillery is already leading the charge. Early this year, they released a 29-year-old whisky to launch the Family Reserve series. It’s just the beginning of a line of older whiskies drawn from the distillery’s warehouses.

There’s also a whisky that spent time in Vinho de Naranja casks. The Filliers Master Distiller Orange Cask taps into a trend gaining traction this year: finishes in vino de naranja casks.

What other flavorful releases are on the way? We’ll have to wait and see. One thing is certain: Belgium’s whisky scene is one to watch.