“She’s Not There (Yet)”
Whisky Review # 1090
Country:Germany 🇩🇪
Region: Rüdenau (Bavaria)
Brand: St. Kilian Classic
Type: Single Malt German Whisky
Age: NAS (Probably 3-5 Years)
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks, Ex-Rum Casks and Ex-Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: No
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks, Ex-Rum Casks and Ex-Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 40 (April 2026) - 0.5 Liter - Travel Retail Shops
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 A bit too expensive for what it offers
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 A bit too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 😔 Better get yourself a sample before buying a full bottle
Colour:
White Wine (Light Gold) - Natural Colour
White Wine (Light Gold) - Natural Colour
Nose:
The first impression is the rather typical Varnish or Wood Veneer note you so often find in West-European mainland Malts. More often than not this is caused by the use of Virgin Oak but I don't think that's the case here. A bit of a mystery! It tends to disappear with time in the glass. The Sherry and Rum Cask influence is quite limited. The Nose is Light, Young, a bit Rough, Fruity, Yeasty and slightly Funky. Only Medium-Sweet with a few Herbal & Sour notes for balance.
The first impression is the rather typical Varnish or Wood Veneer note you so often find in West-European mainland Malts. More often than not this is caused by the use of Virgin Oak but I don't think that's the case here. A bit of a mystery! It tends to disappear with time in the glass. The Sherry and Rum Cask influence is quite limited. The Nose is Light, Young, a bit Rough, Fruity, Yeasty and slightly Funky. Only Medium-Sweet with a few Herbal & Sour notes for balance.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Straw, Farmyard, Yeast, Green Apple, Pear, slightly Sour Berries (Strawberry, Raspberry, Gooseberry), Fresh & Dried Herbs, Musty Oak, Ginger and Licorice.
Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Straw, Farmyard, Yeast, Green Apple, Pear, slightly Sour Berries (Strawberry, Raspberry, Gooseberry), Fresh & Dried Herbs, Musty Oak, Ginger and Licorice.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Caramel, Nectarine, Banana Bread, Margarine, White Wine, Tobacco, Dairy, Pineapple Juice, Yellow Plums, Cinnamon and Mint.
Honey, Caramel, Nectarine, Banana Bread, Margarine, White Wine, Tobacco, Dairy, Pineapple Juice, Yellow Plums, Cinnamon and Mint.
Palate:
Young, Bitter-Sweet, Sour, Thin and slightly Hot. The Alcohol is not integrated. It is Fruity and I can't help but think of a Sour Plum Obstler from time to time. In any case it is noticeably different when compared to your average Scotch Whisky.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Yeast, Green Apple, Pear, Sour Berries, Banana, Nectarine, Lemon, Wallpaper Starch, Musty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Cloves.
Main Flavours:
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Toffee, Marzipan, Floral Soap, White Chocolate, Caffe Latte, Varnish, Ash, Licorice and Mint.
Finish:
On the short side and a little Thin and Harsh. A mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Burnt & Musty notes. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Vanilla, Toffee, Green Apple, Pear, Sour Berries, Melon, Dairy, Floral Soap, Tobacco, Musty Oak, Chili Pepper, Herbal Tea & Ginger. A Bit of Banana & Varnish after a while. Quite Dry in the end.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water helps to control the Alcohol and takes out some of the Harsh notes. It also makes this St. Kilian completely soulless. A few drops are okay but don't overdo it.
Drinking Experience Neat:
Added Water helps to control the Alcohol and takes out some of the Harsh notes. It also makes this St. Kilian completely soulless. A few drops are okay but don't overdo it.
Rating: 6 (******)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 5.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Okay
Conclusion:
The St. Kilian Distillery was founded in 2015 and is located in Rüdenau in Bavaria. They use Scottish made Pot Stills and Wooden Wash-backs. The annual capacity is around 600.000 litres. Since the year 2023 the core range exists of the Classic & the Peated. The current Master Distiller is Mario Rudolf.
The St. Kilian Distillery was founded in 2015 and is located in Rüdenau in Bavaria. They use Scottish made Pot Stills and Wooden Wash-backs. The annual capacity is around 600.000 litres. Since the year 2023 the core range exists of the Classic & the Peated. The current Master Distiller is Mario Rudolf.
St. Kilian Classic is certainly one of the better German Single Malts I have tasted so far. But although the distillery uses first class Scottish distillation equipment it is not yet on par with its Scottish peers. The distillation does not seem to be the problem as the spirit is quite Fruity. But it needs time & good cask management as well to produce a final product that's closer to Whisky rather than a slightly Sour Obstler with Scottish accents. St.Kilian is certainly on the right track and I do hope to taste a fully matured Single Malt from this distillery in the future. I wish them "Hals und Beinbruch" but I also would like them to consider if the Classic is really the best choice for their flagship Single Malt.
Cheers! 🥃
Jan van den Ende April 9, 2026
