St. Kilian Handfilled Rye & Jack Daniels
Nose
ο»ΏThe whisky is surprisingly clean on the nose - almost like a freshly ironed flannel shirt in the morning dew. Malty and vanilla, with a splash of citrus, clearly St. Kilian's signature. Anyone who has ever had one of their purist drams in a glass will immediately feel at home here. No barrel fuss, no overloaded stuff - just pure clarity with style.
Taste
The first sip almost feels like a bourbon - but one with rough edges and a little beard. Dry, sweetish, vanilla-like, then suddenly oily to syrupy. And there it is: the rye. Not dominant, but clearly enough to give the dram a little rebellious note. Spicy, savoury, slightly rustic - a nice contrast to the initial sweetness.
Finish
No big fireworks, but an honest, powerful finish. Medium length, puristic, typical St. Kilian. No smoke, no frills - simply a clean finish that lingers without being intrusive.
Thoughts
The St. Kilian Handfilled Rye & Jack Daniel's is a charming border crosser, strong in craftsmanship, aromatically balanced and with enough corners to not be boring. A whisky that won't appeal to everyone - but could very well appeal to anyone who likes clear lines, subtle experimentation and subtle rye flavours. The influence of the rye finish is not overt, but finely integrated. Anyone who likes American whiskeys with character will have a lot of fun here - especially if they are curious about German variants with craftsmanship and attitude.
Rating: 80/100 - Excellent (Marcel: 80 | Sascha: 80)
Preview Image Source: Whiskybase