
Franconian PUR: St. Kilian Distillers celebrated this year's name day of the Franconian patron with organic barley from the Odenwald and barrels from a Bürgstadt winery made of Spessart oak.
Würzburg's first bishop, Burkard, is the namesake for the third part of the St. Kilian Franconian Saga and thus for probably the most Franconian single malt whisky from the Rüdenau distillery.
Rüdenau, July 2023
In honor of Saint Kilian, the Franconian distillery St. Kilian annually presents a new limited Kiliani Edition. On the feast day of the missionary and itinerant preacher on July 8, this year sees the release of St. Kilian Distillers' most Franconian single malt whisky to date.
The use of local organic barley and regional Pinot Noir barrels made from Spessart oak, as well as the title of the new bottling, demonstrate the whisky distillery's strong connection to its Franconian homeland and to its namesake, St. Kilian.
The Kiliani Editions are named after important figures from the patron saint's life. Following the Franconian Duke GOSBERT and his wife GAILANA, the third Kiliani bottling honors Würzburg's first bishop BURKARD. According to tradition, Würzburg's patron saint BURKARD had the remains of Saint Kilian transferred to the Marienkirche and, on July 8, 752, elevated the Irish monk Kilian and his companions Kolonat and Totnan to diocesan saints.

Kiliani-Edition 2023 - BURKARD
Under the direction of Master Distiller Mario Rudolf, the Kiliani bottling BURKARD has created a unique single malt whisky that perfectly captures the aromas of the Franconian region. The inspiration for this came from hand-selected Pinot Noir barrels made of Franconian oak. The single malt whisky, made from 100% pure organic barley malt from the region and double-distilled in copper pot stills, matured in these wine barrels for three years.
"The use of local barley from Reichartshausen in the Bavarian Odenwald – our home malt, the barrel made from Spessart oak, and its previous use for first-class red wine from neighboring Bürgstadt emphasize the Franconian connection of the Kiliani Edition 2023 in a very special way," Rudolf enthuses. "You can't get more local and regional than this for a whisky," he adds.
The new Kiliani Edition Burkard thus combines the naturalness of regional barley malt with the finesse of the finest Pinot Noir wines from Franconia. With the power of Spessart oak, a unique single malt whisky with characteristic aromas and impressive depth developed. Rounded off by sweet vanilla and red grapes, the matured distillate exudes a fruity bouquet of ripe peaches and juicy apricots. Paired with warming spices, subtle oak notes, and fine tannins, a harmonious and at the same time exceptional taste profile is created. The single malt whisky is not chill-filtered and bottled at an optimal drinking strength of 46% Vol. with natural color in the iconic 0.5-liter pot still bottle.
Limited to 1,648 bottles, the fruity-creamy Kiliani Edition 2023 – BURKARD is already available for order online from St. Kilian and will be available from mid-July at the visitor distillery in Rüdenau. The recommended retail price for the 0.5-liter bottle is € 59.90.
Tasting Notes:

Appearance
Rose gold
Aroma
The intense fruit palette of ripe peaches and juicy apricots is supported by creamy vanilla, enhanced by red grapes and wine-like nuances, and refined by a hint of oak.
Taste
Fruity notes of peaches, apricots, and ripe melons bring a juicy freshness, rounded off by sweet vanilla and red grapes, and gaining additional depth from warming oak spice and subtle tannins.
Finish
The creamy fruit lingers long and warmly with red grapes, a sweet hint of chocolate and dark toffee, supported by dry oak notes and a fine tannic structure.
Alcohol content
46% Vol.
RRP
€ 59.90 (0.5 liters)
About St. Kilian Distillers GmbH
The German whisky distillery from Rüdenau in Lower Franconia near Miltenberg am Main produces premium whisky and liqueurs that have been awarded over 170 gold medals at the most renowned whisky 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 at 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 out more at https://www.massvoll-geniessen.de/. Further information about the company and its portfolio can be found at www.stkiliandistillers.com.




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