Bruges Whisky Company Ryggia Inaugural Release

Nose: Red fruits, berries, raisins, orange zest, nuts (almonds?) and chocolate. Tobacco and salmiak scents emerge later but are subtle. Palate: The cask influence is apparent immediately upon tasting, with strong oak flavors. Tobacco, leather, rancio, Jamaican rum (!), molasses, gingerbread, apricot, clove, nutmeg. The texture is full but not slick. Finish: Medium/long. Spicy, sweet dark fruits tapering off into gentle tannins. An intriguing whisky that I nearly forgot to review. I encountered this by chance last Christmas while in Bruges; a specialty liquor store had it on display. I had never encountered Belgian whisky before, so naturally, I entered the shop and asked for a sample, which the proprietor happily provided. Unfortunately, no water was available (it's cask strength) and only small paper cups were used for tasting. Oh, what a pity. Anyway, this was the initial bottling from the producers, following a few "in progress" releases. It's a well-textured, full-bodied malt that shares considerable similarities with some hot-climate whiskies I've tried, such as Paul John and various selections from Australia and Texas. How peculiar for a Belgian product. Perhaps they utilize those remarkable Belgian beers for the wash? More likely, it's due to the rather rapid maturation in a combination of maple syrup, red wine, cognac, and moscatel casks. Incredible, it sounds like something Starward might attempt! Good stuff, I would have purchased a bottle, but despite its high quality and novelty, it was too expensive for me. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)