St. Kilian Distillers GmbH

St. Kilian Distillers stands for single malt whisky from Germany, combining international whisky culture with craftsmanship precision and a love of experimentation. In Rüdenau, in Lower Franconia near Miltenberg am Main, whiskies with a distinctive character are created in the Odenwald. Pure barley malt, copper pot stills and the interplay of traditional knowledge and German engineering form the basis of production.

The idea for the distillery was developed in 2012 by the entrepreneur and passionate whisky collector Andreas Thümmler and the Irish whisky expert David F. Hynes. Their shared goal was to bring Scottish-Irish production tradition to Germany. After four years of construction, the first spirit flowed in 2016 from the two 6,000-litre copper pot stills made by the Scottish manufacturer Forsyths. In May 2019, the “First Kilian” followed as the first three-year-old single malt whisky. The distillery’s name recalls the Irish monk and apostle of Franconia, Kilian, thus building a bridge between Irish origins and Franconian home.

The range shows how versatile German whisky can be. Alongside the single malt whiskies and the Small Batch Signature Editions, thematic bottlings are part of the brand’s profile. The König Ludwig whiskies, the editions around Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, as well as the Rock Editions, create connections to history, film and music. Bottlings such as “Scorpions – Rock Believer” make this focus tangible. The range is complemented by liqueurs and gin. International awards underline the distillery’s commitment to quality.

Anyone wishing to get to know St. Kilian can experience the production process directly on site. Guided tours through the production facility convey the steps involved in creating the finished whisky. The Discovery Tour offers an introduction to the world of the distillery and ends with a tasting of the products. The Cask Experience Tour takes a deeper look at cask selection, maturation and cask management. Guests also get to know the Private Cask Warehouse and can sample a whisky at cask strength straight from the barrel.

Another offering is the World Whisky Tour. It combines insights into production and the cask warehouse with a comparison between St. Kilian and international whiskies. The accompanying World Whisky Lounge comprises more than 1,000 bottles from various countries. This turns the tasting into an opportunity to classify aromas and get to know different whisky traditions. Individual tours and tastings complement the visitor programme; the range can be discovered on site in the distillery shop.

St. Kilian Distillers thus combines the production of its own spirits with an open approach to whisky culture. The brand appeals to experienced whisky enthusiasts as well as curious newcomers. Its profile is shaped by its roots in Rüdenau, international inspiration and the joy of making whisky experienceable in its many facets.