St. Kilian Heavy Metal Edition Birmingham – Home of Metal – Unpeated
Black Sabbath. Judas Priest. Heavy riffs. Flamethrowers. And now also: whisky. With the limited Heavy Metal Edition ‘Birmingham - Home of Metal’, St. Kilian is bringing a single malt to the stage that is just as uncompromising as the music to which it is dedicated. No smoke, no age statement, but 60.6% cask strength by volume and a load of virgin oak.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Vanilla and caramel like a southern dessert, served on glowing wood. The typical Virgin Oak punch is unmistakable: sweet, warm, slightly burnt, like the last chord after a guitar feedback. And there is also that slightly ashy touch, without any smoke or peat.
Palate
Powerful, oily, sweet - but not sticky. The refined sugar takes over the solo, accompanied by subtle red fruits that reveal themselves surprisingly - above all because no pre-seasoned barrels were at work here. This is Virgin Oak in its purest form, but with a deep groove - not just sweet, but with structure, drive and a hint of floral harmony, probably thanks to the wild service tree.
Finish
The finish is medium-long, round, caramelly and slightly bitter from the wood - like a final, well-placed power chord that lingers in the room. No afterburn, no chaos - simply clean, rich and strong craftsmanship.
Thoughts
Marcel 80/100
This St. Kilian Heavy Metal Edition is like a powerful guitar riff in a glass – direct, sweet, and with enough edges to keep it interesting. Virgin Oak sets the tone, but the subtle service tree note provides the groove that makes it exciting. For fans who don’t need smoke but love character.
Sascha 83/100
A technically impressive single malt that shines with its clear Virgin Oak note and subtle wood bitterness. The balance between sweet vanilla, delicate fruitiness, and precise wood influence creates a convincing structure that doesn’t feel overwhelmed despite the high cask strength. A solid example of powerful yet controlled wood character without artificial sherry influences.
Value for Money: Fair
Discover our value for money winnersThis product was kindly provided to us by St. Kilian. This does not influence our rating. No payments or other benefits were received in exchange for this provision.
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79/100Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the St. Kilian Heavy Metal Edition Birmingham unpeated, even though it feels so powerful?
The whisky deliberately avoids smoke and peat to highlight the Virgin Oak cask maturation and the natural aromas of vanilla, caramel, and red fruits. The power comes from the cask strength of 60.6% ABV and the intense wood character, not from smoke.
What does Virgin Oak mean and how does it influence the taste of this whisky?
Virgin Oak refers to the use of new, unused oak casks for maturation. These impart particularly intense aromas of wood, vanilla, and caramel, giving the whisky its distinctive, warm, and slightly toasted character.
Why does this whisky have no age statement and how does that affect its quality?
Omitting an age statement allows St. Kilian to blend different vintages and maturation stages to achieve a specific flavor profile. Quality here is ensured through cask selection, maturation process, and cask strength, rather than age alone.