St. Kilian Single Cask – Ultra Heavily Peated
Nose
What rises from the glass here is not for the faint-hearted. Pure campfire, no moss, no dirt - just glowing hot, dry smoke. You need a little patience behind it - but it's worth it: sultana sweetness, a fresh sugariness and light sherry fruit carefully peek out from behind the fog.
Taste
On the palate, the whisky is initially dry, oily and powerful, with a warm wave of peat that envelops everything. Then red fruits, dried fruits and malty notes set in - an almost classic combination, but served under high pressure. The Oloroso influence is present, but remains in the background: the smoke sets the tone, but the orchestra plays along.
Finish
The finish is - as expected - long, dry and clearly smoky. But there is more: spice, dark chocolate, a hint of leather and - surprisingly - a maritime note reminiscent of seaweed and coastal fog.
Thoughts
This single cask is not a copy - it is a statement. Anyone who thought that smoky whiskies of this intensity only came from Islay will be proven wrong here. The combination of extremely peaty Glen Esk malt, an exclusive choice of cask (Oloroso Sherry Hogshead) and German distillation skills creates a powerful but astonishingly precise whisky.
Rating: 82/100 - Excellent (Marcel: 80 | Sascha: 84)
Value for Money: 3/5 - Ok
Preview Image Source: St. Kilian