St. Kilian The Early Days – Ketterer Wash X St. Kilian – Unpeated
Bit by bit, as the St. Kilian distillery in Rüdenau continues its presence, we're seeing older releases emerge. Today, we sampled an 8-years Ketterer x St. Kilian from the X-Series, named after the customs numbers of the barrels containing foreign wash. The wash for this single malt was sourced from the Ketterer family brewery, the former domain of Master Distiller Mario Rudolf. Unusually for St. Kilian, this whisky isn't a marriage of fully matured spirits. Instead, it has been re-racked, spending portions of its maturation in ex-bourbon and ex-Sauternes barrique casks.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The nose presents itself delicately and harmoniously, with subtle sweetness of light grapes and green apples. This unfolds into lightly vinous notes of strawberries, cream toffee, and subtle vanilla, complemented by a hint of spicy oak.
Palate
On the palate, this St. Kilian is full-bodied and creamy-smooth, offering pleasantly balanced, yet somewhat exotic fruitiness of pineapple and coconut, accompanied by hints of forest berries. Here too, the whisky evolves into a spicy direction with oak and very fine tannins.
Finish
The finish is finely tuned and very rounded, medium in length and not overly spicy, with the fruit notes receding further into the background. What lingers is dark caramel, slight nuttiness, and a wonderful dryness with a hint of sherry.
Thoughts
Marcel 80/100
This St. Kilian proves that even an 8-years single malt with an unusual wash can be a truly well-rounded experience – creamy, fruity, and with a delightful dose of toffee that simply melts on the palate. For connoisseurs who love bold combinations, this is a genuine recommendation from Rüdenau that’s fun to drink yet never loses its subtly playful elegance.
Sascha 82/100
The complex balance between ex-bourbon and Sauternes cask maturation reveals itself here in a structured, well-balanced profile with clear fruity sweetness and delicate tannin notes. Despite its 58.3% ABV, the whisky remains harmonious, offering a precise interplay of fruit, spice, and subtle dryness – a technically solid example of St. Kilian’s innovative spirit.
Value for Money: Expensive
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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85/100Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the St. Kilian The Early Days – Ketterer Wash X St. Kilian – Unpeated special in its production process?
This whisky is special because the wash comes from the family brewery Ketterer, the former workplace of Master Distiller Mario Rudolf. Additionally, the whisky was not bottled as a pure full maturation but underwent a transfer between ex-bourbon and ex-Sauternes barrique casks, which imparts a complex flavor structure.
How do the different cask types influence the taste of this St. Kilian whisky?
The combination of maturation in ex-bourbon and ex-Sauternes barrique casks creates a balanced harmony between sweet, fruity notes like pineapple and coconut and spicy oak and sherry hints. This gives the whisky a complex depth with a fine dryness on the finish.
Why is the St. Kilian The Early Days – Ketterer Wash X St. Kilian – Unpeated already very complex in taste despite being only 8 years old?
The complexity arises from the combination of the special Ketterer wash and maturation in different cask types. The transfer between bourbon and Sauternes casks brings out a variety of aromas that give the impression of greater maturity than the age alone would suggest.