St. Kilian Signature Edition Four
The St. Kilian Signature Edition 4 is a German whisky that has already found some fans with its 48% vol. and three-year maturation period. This edition is one of the early signature bottlings from the St. Kilian distillery and proudly bears the white ‘Peat’ label.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Schon beim ersten Nosing macht der Signature Edition 4 klar, dass Rauch hier eine wichtige Rolle spielt. Es ist nicht dieser überladene Torfrauch, den man von einigen Islay-Whiskys kennt, sondern eher ein BBQ-Rauch mit Noten von Lagerfeuer und geräuchertem Schinken. Begleitet wird dieser herzhafte Eindruck von fruchtigen Aromen wie Cranberrys, Rosinen, Birne und Pfirsich. Eine leichte Ledernote und ein Hauch Tabak runden das Ganze ab, doch hier und da blitzt eine fast seifige Note auf, die an den jugendlichen Charakter erinnert.
Palate
On the palate, the whisky shows its youthfulness, but the tingling on the palate is pleasant and not disturbing. The smoke remains present here too, but is much softer than on the nose. Instead, fruity notes of sultanas and dates become more prominent, accompanied by a light tobacco note. The combination of sweet and smoky is exciting, but you can sense that the whisky could do with a few more years of ageing. Nevertheless - for three years, it already shows a lot of depth.
Finish
Der Abgang des St. Kilian Signature Edition 4 überrascht. Der Rauch verflüchtigt sich fast vollständig und lässt stattdessen Raum für würzige Pfeffernoten und eine dezente Idee von Kaffee.
Thoughts
Marcel 72/100
The Signature Edition Four is a smoky delight with a youthful freshness that already impresses with its fruity and spicy notes. Sure, there’s still room for growth, but it’s precisely this imperfection that makes it exciting and endearing – perfect for anyone looking for German whisky with character.
Sascha 73/100
With its balanced interplay of smoke, fruit, and spice, the St. Kilian Signature Edition Four demonstrates a solid structure, though its still young maturation slightly holds it back. For lovers of well-crafted yet still developing German whiskies, it offers an intriguing balance between intensity and elegance.
Value for Money: Expensive
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How does the smoky character of the St. Kilian Signature Edition 4 differ from classic Islay whiskies?
The smoke in the Signature Edition 4 is more reminiscent of BBQ and campfire smoke and less intense than the typical peat smoke of Islay whiskies. It comes across as hearty with notes of smoked ham, rather than overpowering or medicinal.
Why should one pay attention to the maturation period in a three-years whisky like the St. Kilian Signature Edition 4?
With only three years of maturation, the whisky still shows youthful traits, such as a slight soapy note and a pleasant tingling on the palate. The short maturation is reflected in the combination of fruity and smoky aromas, which could become rounder with more time.
Which aromas dominate the finish of the St. Kilian Signature Edition 4 and how do they influence the overall impression?
In the finish, the smoke almost completely fades away, making room for spicy pepper and subtle coffee notes. This creates a surprisingly spicy and balanced conclusion that complements the youthful smoky character well.