St. Kilian Single Cask – David’s Choice – Unpeated
The St. Kilian distillery never fails to surprise us with an endless series of single cask releases. They are consistently adventurous, continuously exploring new avenues to create unique single malts. Today's "David's Choice" comes from a cask that caught David Haynes' attention during a tasting session in Bunker City. This whisky matured for 6 years in a fresh chestnut wood cask. Today, we'll see what effect this unusual wood had on it. Note: David Haynes is one of the masterminds behind St. Kilian distillery and personally co-responsible for its planning.
The panel
Mean 83.0 · spread 0
Value for money 3/5
- Distillery
- St. Kilian
- Type
- Single Malt
- Country
- Germany
- Age
- 5 years
- Strength
- 58.4% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
Right from the start, the dark, intense color catches our eye. And just as expected, the nose doesn't disappoint. The intense aroma of freshly cut wood immediately fills the air. We discover lush notes of warm chestnuts and a dry sweetness reminiscent of raisins. Behind that, there's an aroma of dried fruits.
Palate
On the palate, this single malt continues to impress. Intense and oily, it coats the entire mouth. We taste a versatile blend of dried fruits and forest herbs. It offers a myriad of wood flavors, leaving a dry, warming sensation on the palate.
Finish
The finish is exceptionally long, especially for a non-smoky whisky. Fruit notes continue to dominate, providing a warming sensation. We're reminded of a sweet chutney, rounded off by delicate tobacco leaves and full-bodied wood tones.
Verdicts
Marcel
A whisky that surprises with its intense chestnut wood charm and is a true delight for all lovers of dark fruity, warming notes. David's Choice offers plenty of drinking pleasure and character, even if its strength can be a bit challenging for beginners – but that’s exactly what makes it so exciting!
Sascha
The unusual maturation in chestnut wood casks gives this single malt a remarkable depth and complexity, expressed through an intense woodiness and balanced fruit sweetness. Despite its high intensity, the balance remains intact, making David’s Choice a structured and intriguing bottling that will especially appeal to seasoned connoisseurs.
What it is worth
No auction record for this distillery, so we cannot tell you what this bottle is worth. We would rather say that than guess.