Featured at World Whisky Day 2023: Het Anker is a Belgian brewery with a long and proud history, beginning in the 15th Century. Gouden Carolus is maybe their most well known beer, though they also produce La Cambre, Maneblusser, and the Konishi sake line. In 2010, the owners decided to open a distillery and launch their first whisky in 2013. The Gouden Carolus Single Malt is that first release, and the distillery boasts a few more expressions along with a Belgian Cream in the style of an Irish Cream. This single malt is based on the Gouden Carolus Tripel beer. It is aged in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in Het Anker casks that have previously held some mixture of their beer. The bottle is a distinctive square shape and, while not seen in the images here, comes with a box that mirrors an image of the bottle on the entire length of one side.
Distillery: Het Anker
Country: Belgium
Age: NAS
Strength: 46%
Price: $64.99
Maturation: ex-bourbon and Het Anker casks
Location: Mechelen
Nose: Yeast, grapefruit, coriander
Palate: Hops, pepper, lemon
Finish: Lemon, hops
Comments: This is not the first beer-influenced single malt we’ve tasted. See our thoughts on the Berkshire Mountain 10 year Oktoberfest for a similar style.
Adam – Do I like the Gouden Carolus Single Malt? I’m still not sure, even after multiple visits. Do I find it fascinating and worthy of exploration? Without question. My first experience with a Belgian whisky was not great, so I was hoping for a different experience this time around. The original mash and finishing in ex-beer casks really shine through. I’m not a huge fan of Tripels to begin with but I appreciate that this doesn’t try to beat you down with those elements. There is definite grapefruit and hops on the nose that I associate more with an IPA. Those elements remain throughout in a seamless journey, dancing occasionally with light pepper and lemon before finishing remarkably cleanly. This is a very fine whisky for the summer and I imagine could make some good cocktails, and is priced to do either. I’ve even had it with a couple of iced cubes and it holds up remarkably well.
Kate – I wonder what would happen if they distilled this more than once? What about two or three times? That might take care of some of the hops influence.
Bill – If I had to give the Gouden Carolus Single Malt a personality, it would be a Bond villain. It needs a little bit more dad bod, a little bit less Mr. Universe. I’d be interested to see what would happen if this aged longer than 36 months. It’s not unpleasant to me since I like Belgian beers.
It needs a little bit more dad bod, a little bit less Mr. Universe.
Henry – Rich floral nose with grapefruit and coriander, and maybe a hint of grains of paradise? Citrus and hops on the palate. Hops. Seriously. What is this? Nice light finish, with more hoppy notes. Hops. Seriously?
Ben – The Gouden Carolus Single Malt does not have a normal citrus element on the nose. This doesn’t feel like it’s whisky.
Michael – Is this even whisky? It makes me wonder if this is even whisky. I don’t dislike this but it brings up all sorts of questions to me.
