Reviews

Mario Rudolf and his team at St. Kilian have come up with something very special for this anniversary whisky. 60 years of Scorpions - that literally cries out for a whisky that is just as uncompromising as the rock legends themselves. And what do you do when you want to create a whisky with bite? You take German beech-smoked malt and mature it in ex-tequila barrels. A combination that looks like a daring experiment on paper, but in practice tells a story that you won't forget in a hurry.

Something fascinating is currently happening in the rolling hills of the German whisky landscape: Tradition meets rebellion, artisanal perfection meets untamed rock energy. The St. Kilian Scorpions - Rock Believer is more than just a whisky - it is a liquid homage to one of the greatest German rock bands of all time and at the same time a manifesto for the quality of German distillery craftsmanship. This extraordinary collaboration between the St. Kilian distillery in Rüdenau and the Scorpions is proof that innovation and respect for tradition can go hand in hand. Like a perfectly arranged song, this single malt combines German winemaking tradition with the powerful energy of rock'n'roll.

There is a special atmosphere in the depths of an ex-Amarone barrel from the Italian winery Claudio Lenotti. Two worlds that could not be more different meet here: The elegant, sweet Amarone character meets the wild, earthy soul of Scottish peat. The result is the St. Kilian Signature Edition Fifteen - a German single malt whisky that tells a story of contrasts and harmony at 53.5% vol.

What the distillery delivers with this Ultra Heavily Peated Single Cask from an ex-sherry Oloroso cask is a statement: Germany can also produce extreme whisky! After 6 years of maturation (2017-2024) in a large-volume American oak cask that previously housed Oloroso sherry, a monster has been created here. Before we get started, a serious note: this whisky is not for beginners! With 135 ppm (parts per million) phenol content and 58.90% vol. this is a whisky that will make even experienced peat lovers sweat. For comparison: a Ardbeg Corryvreckan has around 50 ppm, a Lagavulin 16 Years around 35 ppm. So we're talking about three times as much in an already smoky whisky!

The Hedan 2021/2025 is more than just another German single malt. It epitomises the vinophile side of Franconia and combines regional identity with sophisticated maturation in Dunkelfelder red wine barrels from the Palatinate. The distillery relies here on its tried and tested "Heimatmalt" made from regional organic barley, which was allowed to mature for four years in these special wine barrels.

The Ledaig 17 years 2006/2024 from Gordon & MacPhail is definitely not a whisky for everyone. Those who prefer harmonious, pleasing single malts should steer clear of it. This Scotch from the Isle of Mull is a statement whisky that does not hide its industrial origins from the Tobermory distillery - on the contrary, it celebrates them. With an alcohol strength of 56.5% and 17 years of maturation in sherry casks, it presents itself as an uncompromising character whisky that polarises.

Imagine this: A young, sustainable Highland distillery meets white port and the result is... Magic? Well, at least the Nc'Nean Aon White Port 2020/2025 is the result - a whisky that proves that good things can happen if you're brave enough to be a little crazy. With a proud 61.1% alcohol strength, this is definitely not a whisky for sissies, but for everyone else it could be a summery dream.

The Talisker Storm presents itself without an age statement with a proud 45.8% alcohol content - a deliberate decision by the distillery, which has combined different cask maturations here. The concept behind it: To reinforce the typical Talisker characteristics without drifting into extremes. Has it succeeded? Let's take a look in the glass.

The Langatun 5 Years - Wajos promises Swiss whisky craftsmanship from the Langatun distillery, bottled by the independent bottler Wajos. With a proud 40% alcohol content and five years of maturation, which should apparently feel like an eternity. Spoiler alert: it doesn't.

The Tomatin Legacy is a Scotch whisky from the Scottish Highlands and the entry-level bottling from the Tomatin Distillery. It tells the story of the distillery that once revitalised a remote area and created a thriving community. But what's inside the bottle?

The Ralph Steadman Collection is dedicated to the craft of whisky. The artist creates a small artwork for each bottle. Bruichladdich is all about the malting process: "A practice almost entirely lost to the annals of time, the by-hand floor malting process captured by Ralph Steadman’s illustration is being recommissioned at Bruichladdich distillery. This cask was selected for its incredible complexity and remarkable balance."

Whisky is more than just enjoyment - it is craft, history and sometimes art. The Ralph Steadman Collection is dedicated to precisely this approach in collaboration with the independent bottler Cask 88. Each bottle not only carries a precious drop, but also an individual artwork by Ralph Steadman. At Glenburgie, everything revolves around the cooperage and distilling of the casks: "An essential part of the coopering process, cask firing is arguably the most spectacularly dramatic part of the whisky making process. The incredible intensity of the flames captured by Ralph Steadman in his arresting illustration mirrors the intense richness and unrelentingly long finish of this hand-selected cask."