Filliers: Tribute to craftsmanship
Belgium’s Filliers Distillery has launched a new exclusive Family Reserve whisky series in honour of its 145-year heritage.
Tucked away in the charming town of Bachte‐Maria‐Leerne in East Flanders, Filliers stands out as one of Belgium’s few remaining family‐owned distilleries, established in 1880. The site boasts not one but three distinct distilleries dedicated to crafting gin, genever, and whisky. At the helm of the distillery is Benoit Filliers, a sixth‐generation master distiller who continues the family’s rich tradition of distillation with passion and knowledge passed down through generations. The Filliers family business began in 1869 when Karel Lodewijk Filliers purchased the land for the venture. His vision was advanced by Kamiel Filliers, who acquired a distilling license and introduced a steam engine to speed up the grain genever distillation process. In 1928, third‐generation Firmin Filliers launched Belgium’s first gin, enhancing the distillery’s reputation from local acclaim to nationwide success. The 1960s saw brothers Carlos and Louis Filliers modernise the business, shifting from agriculture to barrel‐ageing genever. Fifth‐generation cousins Bernard and Jan took over in the 1980s, injecting new energy into the operation. In 2018, Filliers introduced its barrel‐aged genever range, with the oldest expression matured for 21 years. The same year, the distillery installed two new whisky stills, followed by the launch of its first single malt whisky in 2019. Now, the Filliers legacy continues to blend tradition with innovation in the spirits industry. In tribute to the family’s dedication to craftsmanship, Filliers has launched the first release of its new limited edition Family Reserve collection. This exclusive series begins with a 29‐year‐old single grain whisky distilled in 1995, the birth year of Benoit, who joined the family business in 2023. The whisky was matured in a single American white oak cask, No. 5953, and was bottled in June 2024 at 44.2% ABV at the peak of its character and depth. Fillers Family Reserve 29‐year‐old embodies nearly three decades of patience, craftsmanship, and dedication to excellence. Boasting a natural light golden colour, the grain whisky offers a refined sensory experience displaying almond and thuja shrub aromas, a balanced, dry profile with delicate liquorice notes, and a creamy mouthfeel that lingers into a long, sophisticated finish. Limited to just 286 bottles worldwide, each bottle is hand‐signed by Benoit, showcasing the family’s unwavering commitment to quality. The whisky is elegantly presented in a bespoke linen box, a fitting tribute to its rarity and prestige. The whisky is not merely a drink – it is legacy in a bottle, inviting enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and collectors to savour a piece of the Filliers family history. The 29‐year‐old Family Reserve will be available at select shops from 27 March with a suggested retail price of €249.99 (US$274). “With the Family Reserve series, we honour six generations of craftsmanship while embracing the future of Filliers whisky,” says Benoit. The distillery plans to release one edition annually around March in the coming years, with each expression telling a unique story of the family's history.
