Press Release: Heavy Metal Online Whisky Tasting on October 2, 2024 – The Ultimate Experience for Whisky and Metal Fans

St. Kilian Distillers Presents New Judas Priest and Grave Digger Single Malt Whiskies, and Other Heavy Metal Bottlings

Rüdenau, September 2024
On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 7:00 PM, St. Kilian Distillers celebrates the powerful connection of exquisite single malt whiskies and electrifying heavy metal sounds with a Heavy Metal Online Whisky Tasting. Live from the distillery in Rüdenau, St. Kilian Master Distillers Mario Rudolf and Lars Baethcke, accompanied by other guests from the heavy metal scene, will guide participants through the tasting. The line-up includes eight premium tasting samples and promises a true feast for whisky connoisseurs and metal fans alike.

During this special evening, three strictly limited single malt whisky special bottlings, created in close collaboration with heavy metal icons Judas Priest and Grave Digger, will be presented for the first time.
These include the new Judas Priest Single Malt Whisky "Turbo" – a single cask bottling inspired by the legendary 10th Judas Priest studio album, which matured in a former Pacherenc barrique cask, a French sweet wine, and is as versatile and energetic as the music it honors.
Furthermore, the second Grave Digger Earth Cask Maturation "Exhumation – Chapter II" takes you into the dark depths of metal. Made from Scottish peated malt with 80 ppm, this single malt whisky first matured in fresh Palatinate oak casks and then in small 30-liter casks underground, impressing with earthy-spicy notes and dark smoke.
The new St. Kilian Heavy Metal bottling "Birmingham – The Home of Metal," a tribute to the birthplace of heavy metal and home to legendary bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, completes this exciting series of new releases.

The tasting line-up is rounded off by the St. Kilian CLASSIC – Mild & Fruity, two additional Judas Priest Single Malt Whiskies, and a Grave Digger bottling. The grand finale is the popular "Berry Metal" forest fruit liqueur, with its unique blend of fruity sweetness and smoky peat character.

Participation and ordering of tasting sets

Anyone who doesn't want to miss this unique experience should secure a spot quickly. The tasting sets, which contain all three new whiskies and five other samples, can be conveniently ordered online until September 29, 2024, or purchased directly at the visitor distillery shop in Rüdenau.

The St. Kilian novelties for the Heavy Metal Online Whisky Tasting in detail:

Judas Priest „Turbo“ – Unpeated (limited to 320 bottles): Inspired by the legendary 10th studio album Turbo by Judas Priest, this four-year single cask bottling is as multifaceted as the music it honors. Matured in an ex-Pacherenc sweet wine barrique cask made of French oak, the mild, unpeated single malt whisky unfolds an exciting combination of honeyed fruits, green walnut notes, and oak wood, rounded off by a gently spicy finish. Bottled at perfect drinking strength, it captures the album's electrifying energy.

Tasting Notes

Appearance
Bright gold

Aroma
Seductive aromas of light grapes, ripe peaches and baked apples merge harmoniously with intense honey notes, a hint of vanilla, delicate floral accents and soft oak tones.

Taste
The fruity sweetness of ripe peaches and light grapes, complemented by creamy honey, is accompanied by fine, slightly bitter grape seed and green walnut notes, which combine perfectly with a warming, gentle oak spice.

Finish
The creamy fruit notes linger with a long-lasting finish that elegantly unfolds into dry nuances of green walnuts, finely spicy honey and warming oak wood.

Alcohol content
48 % vol

RRP
€ 69.90 (0.7 liter)

St. Kilian Heavy Metal Edition „Birmingham – The Home of Metal“ – Unpeated (limited to 400 bottles): Birmingham, the cradle of Heavy Metal and home to legendary bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, lends its name to this powerful whisky creation. Bottled at cask strength, this three-year-old single malt matured predominantly in heavily charred new American white oak casks (Virgin Oak) and contains distillates aged in high-quality cornelian cherry wood. These impart additional floral and herbaceous nuances to the whisky. A true masterpiece that embodies the pulsating heartbeat of metal in liquid form.

Tasting Notes

Appearance
Amber

Aroma
Intense fruit notes of ripe peaches and baked apples harmonize with vanilla cream and toffee, complemented by spicy oak tones and subtle floral hints, rounded off by a touch of fresh mint.

Taste
The opulent sweetness of creamy vanilla merges with toffee and complex fruit notes of apricots, peaches, and baked apples, while warming oak spice and a pinch of black pepper are harmoniously complemented by subtle hints of mint.

Finish
The long-lasting finish unfolds with creamy fruit jam, enveloped by vanilla and dark toffee, and is refined by dry oak tones and delicate herbal nuances.

Alcohol content
60.6 % vol

RRP
€ 69.90 (0.7 liter)

Grave Digger Earth Cask Maturation Exhumation – Chapter II – Peated (limited to 696 bottles): Exhumation – Chapter II is a tribute to the dark, mystical side of metal. After two years of maturation in fresh Palatinate oak casks, this smoky-peated creation matured for another two years in small 30-liter casks, including ex-rum, ex-bourbon, and fresh Palatinate oak casks, underground in the Odenwald. The result is a single malt whisky of unparalleled depth, characterized by fruity, spicy, and earthy aromas, as well as dark peat smoke, bringing the essence of the Odenwald directly to the glass.

Tasting Notes

Appearance
Amber

Aroma
Sweet peat smoke unites with the fruit aromas of ripe peaches and pineapple, accompanied by vanilla, BBQ notes, and earthy accents, while spicy oak, malty nuances, and a hint of menthol harmoniously round off the aroma.

Taste
A fruity composition of ripe peaches, pineapple, caramel, and vanilla cream combines with a warming melange of spicy oak and freshly crushed pepper, accompanied by a malty sweetness and gently enveloped by earthy peat smoke.

Finish
Creamy fruit aromas and malty sweetness combine with dry oak notes, BBQ notes, as well as subtle earthy and ash nuances that linger with vanilla and a hint of honey.

Alcohol content
50.8 % vol

RRP
€ 99.90 (0.7 liter)

Available in limited quantities

All new bottlings presented on October 2nd from 7:00 PM will be available for sale in the online shop at the conclusion of the online tasting. If sufficient quantities are available, the limited editions are expected to be available for purchase at the visitor distillery in Rüdenau from Monday, October 7, 2024.

About Global Merchandising Services Limited

Founded in 2008 by Barry Drinkwater, Global Merchandising Services is one of the world's largest evaluators of music and entertainment merchandise rights, developing innovative international merchandising programs. From renowned bands and artists such as Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Iron Maiden, to cinematic hits and television shows, the portfolio encompasses a wide range of diverse products. Based in London and Los Angeles, Global Merchandising Services offers a turnkey solution for design, product development, manufacturing, and sales across all retail distribution channels: live events, web shops, sponsorships, and third-party licensing.

About St. Kilian Distillers GmbH

The German whisky distillery from Rüdenau, Lower Franconia, near Miltenberg am Main, produces top-class whiskies and liqueurs that have been awarded over 200 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 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 responsible consumption of alcohol, about which you can find information 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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