Press Release: 3rd St. Kilian Whisky Festival on June 28, 2025: Rüdenau as a Hotspot for Whisky Fans from Across Germany

Eventful festival day all about German single malt – with exclusive tastings and limited editions at St. Kilian Distillery and the legendary Bunker City

Rüdenau, June 2025
On Saturday, June 28, 2025, the multiple award-winning St. Kilian Distillers invite you to the 3rd St. Kilian Whisky Festival. Amidst the idyllic scenery of Rüdenau near Miltenberg am Main, Germany's most innovative whisky distillery will open its doors from 10 am to 8 pm for a delightful celebration of the "water of life" – perfectly timed with German Whisky Day.

The festival offers a varied program for connoisseurs, collectors, and explorers: with free short tours of the distillery, live music, regional cuisine, and an extensive tasting program, the full diversity of whisky will be brought to life. Families are also welcome: a cheerful children's program with a bouncy castle ensures that even the youngest guests feel completely at home.

Pure whisky experience – distillery and Bunker City open their doors

A highlight of the day is the exclusive access to the St. Kilian Bunker City, usually not open to the public, where over 10,000 casks are stored. Shuttle buses run free of charge between the parking lots, the distillery, and Bunker City, ensuring a relaxed festival experience.

In Bunker City, visitors can expect, among other things, a Bavarian whisky and Weißwurst breakfast, accompanied by exciting tastings with Master Distiller Mario Rudolf and his team. The full range of cask maturation will be presented – from French elegance to American power and regional wood aromas. The effect of various previous fillings (e.g., rum, sherry, or wine) on the flavor diversity of the single malts will be impressively demonstrated.

Tastings for beginners, explorers, and experts

Numerous highlights also await visitors at the distillery itself. Whether it's a Nordic whisky breakfast, a journey of discovery to the Master Distiller's personal favorites, an excursion into the world of "Viking Whiskys," or an in-depth analysis of the chemical processes behind the aroma diversity – the program delights both beginners and experts alike.

For lovers of creative cask projects, there are the "Collaboration Casks," while sweet-toothed fans will enjoy the liqueur tasting. In addition to the diverse spirits offering, there is the distinctive BUD SPENCER – DISTILLED DRY GIN as well as a selection of refined cocktails and long drinks.

Some of the tastings will already take place on the eve of the festival, Friday, June 27, 2025, due to high demand – ideal for those who want to fully enjoy the festival weekend. Remaining tickets for selected tastings can be booked online via the St. Kilian website and – if available – at the festival information point on site.

Limited festival bottlings – collector's items with character

Visitors can also look forward to exclusive special bottlings created especially for the festival – and available exclusively on site on the day of the event:

Distillers Choice Unpeated (Single Cask) – 52.5% vol – €49.90:

This mild special bottling was made from local organic barley malt ("Heimatmalt") and matured for four years in an ex-Bourbon barrel that previously contained Luxembourgish cider for 15 months. The result is a fruit-driven single malt with juicy apple and pear notes, sweet vanilla, delicate toffee, and a hint of citrus freshness, delicately balanced by gentle oak spice.

Distillers Choice Peated (Single Cask) – 53.7% vol – €49.90:

The smoky festival edition matured for three years in a former Rivesaltes barrique from France. This noble sweet wine cask gives the single malt a complex aroma of juicy cherries, dark grapes, and ripe blackberries, enveloped by sweet peat smoke, creamy vanilla, and fine oak spice.

Pre-opening on June 27 – exclusive and sold out

Fans and connoisseurs can already get in the mood for the festival on Friday evening at the exclusive pre-opening event from 6:00 pm at the distillery. In addition to live music in a relaxed open-air atmosphere, exciting drink pairing stations will be the focus. The price includes a 0.5-liter bottle of the exclusive pre-opening bottling and a voucher for a specialty from the food truck.

Pre-Opening Unpeated – 53.1% vol:

The limited special edition matured in ex-Bockbier, ex-Bourbon, and ex-Rye casks and entices with a fine veil of smoke over vanilla cream, rye notes, and malty beer aromas, which blend with apricot, delicate caramel, and spicy oak into a creamy, warming harmony.

Note: All tickets for the pre-opening are already sold out.

Festival flair with music, enjoyment, and passion

In addition to the spirits offerings, live music with pipes & drums and regional acts, numerous food trucks, and culinary specialties from the region will provide real festival atmosphere. On Friday evening, the folk-rock band An Cat Dubh (Gaelic for "The Black Cat") will make the open-air stage rock with captivating sounds. On festival Saturday, the legendary Paddy Schmidt, frontman of the cult band Paddy Goes to Holyhead, will provide musical highlights and real pub feeling with his distinctive "whisky voice." Also on Saturday, the famous Clan Pipers Frankfurt will spread authentic Scottish flair with powerful bagpipe sounds and driving drums, creating goosebump moments.

The St. Kilian Whisky Festival 2025 is more than just an event – it is a meeting place for whisky friends, connoisseurs, and the curious from all over Germany. Whether it's an exclusive tasting, exciting behind-the-scenes insights, or simply a day full of music, culinary delights, and whisky joy: this festival combines artisanal quality, creativity, and festival flair at the highest level.

Further information, bookable tastings, and tours can be found at: www.stkiliandistillers.com/destillerie/3-st-kilian-whisky-festival.

About St. Kilian Distillers GmbH

The German whisky distillery from Rüdenau in Lower Franconia near Miltenberg am Main produces top-class whiskies and liqueurs that have been awarded over 250 gold medals in the most prestigious competitions around the globe. In addition, awards such as "World-Class Distillery," "Distillery of the Year," and "Whisky of the Year" attest to the international top level on which the young distillery, founded in 2012 by investment banker Andreas Thümmler and producing since 2016, operates with its whiskies. St. Kilian Distillers supports the responsible consumption of alcohol, about which you can find information at www.massvoll-geniessen.de. Further information about the company and its portfolio can be found at www.stkiliandistillers.com.

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