BUS Whisky is one of many small distilleries in The Netherlands. The distillery (named after their water source) is just one part of their wide range of activities, also providing 28 hotel rooms at the farm De Heische Hoeve, a wedding location and a restaurant. Whisky tourism (short stays that include a tasting) and cask investment rounds appear to be a primary income for now.
Distilling is a bit of a side project. Originally a pig farm, they moved into barley not long ago. Distilling was a way to process the excess barley they were growing for a nearby brewery. They also ventured into beer and schnapps but they left this behind.
A new pot still was installed in 2024 so it’s safe to assume the product we’re reviewing today comes from their tiny schnapps still. The standard single malt whisky is said to be around 3 years old, with a lot of attention to sustainability.
BUS Single Malt (47%, OB +/- 2024, 50 cl)
Nose: soft, with mild apple notes and lemon candy, a hint of mint leaves and dried grass. Hints of dusty barley. Then a light mineral note appears, but this evolves into a hint of wet cardboard. Not a lot more to report.
Mouth: there’s a sweet vanilla theme, but also a (light) alcoholic astringency, leading up to a resinous note and more of the grassy hints. Very light ginger. Then fresh woody notes, hints of green pepper and this cardboard edge again.
Finish: rather short and neutral.
The entire farm is a well-intentioned project, no doubt, in which the whisky can have a leverage effect for other activities. However like many a new distillery, I’m afraid they are overestimating the quality, blindsighted by a couple of bronze and silver medals at lesser-known spirits awards. Let’s give them a couple of years and see what the new still brings. There’s potential. In the meantime I’ll try some of their single casks if I have the chance. Available from Whiskysite.nl for instance.