5 Entertaining Facts About the Gouden Carolus Single Malt Whisky

The Gouden Carolus Single Malt whisky from Belgium isn't your ordinary whisky. It's the drink that bridges the worlds of a brewery and distillery in Mechelen, uniting beer and whisky lovers. Here's 5 fun facts that will make you want to pour a glass right away.

Imagine: a family that has been distilling since 1657, long before the word 'whisky' was even known in Belgium. We're talking about the Van Breedam family, founders of Het Anker brewery. This distillery is behind the Gouden Carolus whisky, a gem in the Belgian whisky world. The family began with gin in the first distillery they opened.

Over the years, they gained more experience as gin, and other drinks, became increasingly popular. Five generations later, under the leadership of Charles Leclef, a Belgian whisky was launched.

So when you pour a glass of Gouden Carolus Single Malt whisky, you're not just having an ordinary single malt whisky. It's centuries of craftsmanship, passion, and artistry in a glass - golden in color and with a sweet fragrance.

The whisky is distilled from the malted barley mash of the Gouden Carolus beers. Het Anker's house yeast, which has been responsible for the flavorful signature of Belgian beers for years, is also used.

If you're a beer lover and take a sip of the Gouden Carolus Single Malt whisky, you might just discover a hint of the familiar beer. On the other hand, you might also taste something recognizable from the whisky in a Gouden Carolus beer.

In any case, the Belgian beer and whisky are tightly interwoven.

The Belgian whiskymaker’s wash demands to be honored in only one way: through the right stills. That’s why the distillery doesn’t just have any old pot stills, but massive Scottish Forsyths stills.

The arrival of these stills at Het Anker marked a first in Belgium, but more importantly, the stills lend a distinct, soft and rich character to the spirit.

Fun fact: You can get up close and personal with the Forsyths stills during a tour at Het Anker. Better yet, you can even taste the whisky right amongst the stills.

After the distillation, the Gouden Carolus Single Malt matures in oak barrels. The Belgian distillery uses special barrels exclusively at Het Anker to create a unique depth of flavor and complexity.

Besides first fill bourbon barrels, they use their Anker barrels. These are American oak barrels that are toasted and recharred to precise specifications.

Think of it as the Coca Cola recipe: it's top secret but gives a signature flavor that's unmistakable. The nice thing about the Gouden Carolus Single Malt whisky is that not a single drop of colorant is used. It’s as pure as it gets.

Having read this story about the Gouden Carolus Single Malt whisky, you're undoubtedly curious about the taste and the price tag on a bottle.

Thanks to maturation in exclusive barrels, the whisky has a deeply layered character, resulting in sweet and fruity aromas. The refined character that develops on the nose continues in the mouth with flavors of malt, vanilla and citrus.

It comes hand in hand with a pleasant bitterness that reminds us of Gouden Carolus beer. Towards the finish, the whisky takes on a warming character before it parts from the palate with sweet tones.

Even though the Gouden Carolus Single Malt whisky tastes like a premium whisky, the price doesn't reflect that. For just 47 euros, you can have a bottle in a case from the Belgian whiskymaker's website. Can you resist that?