With Rudolf Schenker as a special guest, St. Kilian celebrates 60 Years of Scorpions with a unique online tasting event
Rüdenau/Hannover, June 2025
When rock history is written, it's time to raise a toast: St. Kilian Distillers invites you to a special online whisky tasting on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM – live from Hanover, the home of the world-famous band, to celebrate the Scorpions' 60th band anniversary. Fans of great music and first-class single malt whiskies can look forward to an unforgettable evening, offering a first taste of the future collaboration between St. Kilian and the Scorpions.
Scorpions founding member Rudolf Schenker, along with St. Kilian Master Distiller Mario Rudolf and Brand Ambassador Christoph Albietz, will guide participants through this extraordinary online event. Together, they will take whisky lovers and music fans on a journey through the band's eventful history – accompanied by eight selected samples, exciting anecdotes, and pure enjoyment.
Highlight of the evening: Two St. Kilian Single Malt Whiskies specially created for the anniversary
Under the names "SCORPIONS - ROCK BELIEVER" and "SCORPIONS – 60 YEARS OF ROCK", the internationally award-winning whisky distillers combine aromatic power with the band's unmistakable energy. The Scorpions' personal selection of noble German white wine and characterful tequila casks reflects the multifaceted sound and taste of the rock legends.
This exclusive collaboration was made possible in cooperation with Bravado, the world's leading provider of music merchandise and brand partnerships.
The line-up will be complemented by further novelties such as this year's Kiliani Edition HEDAN, which will be officially available on July 8th, the name day of St. Kilian Distillers' patron saint. A particularly smoky single cask bottling with an ultra heavily peated character will also be part of the entertaining online whisky tasting.
The collaboration between the distillery from Lower Franconia and Germany's most successful rock band from Hanover goes far beyond this event: "We are thrilled to celebrate our 60th band anniversary with such a special cooperation," says Scorpions founder Rudolf Schenker. "Whisky and rock – it just fits. With St. Kilian, we have found a partner who stands for passion and character just like our music. The whiskies created especially for us are true originals – just like our journey as a band."
Philipp Trützler, managing director of St. Kilian Distillers, is also enthusiastic: "The Scorpions are living legends – not only in Germany, but worldwide. It is a great honor for us to be able to develop two special whiskies for this anniversary and thus become a part of this unique band history. Both special editions reflect the powerful, unmistakable energy of the band in their own way – matured with character, just like their music."
Whisky fans and rock enthusiasts have until June 25, 2025, to secure one of the limited tasting sets – online in the St. Kilian shop or directly at the visitor distillery in Rüdenau.Order the tasting sets
The St. Kilian novelties for the online whisky tasting in detail:
Scorpions – Rock Believer – Unpeated (limited to 7,500 bottles): This single malt whisky combines German rock history with noble cask art from German wine-growing regions. Each fully matured in different cask types – pre-aged with sweet wine from Bacchus and Scheurebe, noble white wine Spätlese, and fine Chardonnay – this unpeated whisky unfolds an expressive aroma world. Fine notes of sun-ripened grapes, melting toffee, and fine oak spice create a harmonious interplay that is reminiscent of a powerful guitar solo: intense, authentic, with real stage charisma. A whisky that, like the Scorpions themselves, stands for passion, identity, and character – pure rock energy in liquid form.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Bright Amber
Aroma
An elegant interplay of sun-ripened grapes, velvety apricots, and juicy pears is refined by delicate vanilla, fine oak spice, and a hint of melting toffee.
Palate
Silky and balanced, a fruity sweetness of light grapes, juicy apricots, and ripe pears unfolds, carried by gentle oak warmth, fine toffee, and the subtle dryness of light grape skins.
Finish
The creamy fruit notes linger warmly and long with gentle wine aromas, spicy-dry oak, fine tannins, and a hint of light grape skins.
Alcohol content
47 % vol
RRP
€ 49.90 (0.7 Liters)
Scorpions – 60 Years of Rock (limited to 760 bottles): An anniversary whisky with a bite – made from German beechwood smoked malt and matured in expressive ex-tequila casks. A bold connection: Franconian craftsmanship meets the fiery soul of Mexico – home of the "escorpión", the scorpion. Spicy fruit, fine smoke, herbal freshness, and a hint of agave give this whisky an unmistakable note. Powerful and complex like a striking riff – a dramatic appearance in the glass.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Bright gold
Aroma
Light fruit notes of overripe pears and juicy apricots combine with creamy vanilla and fine wood smoke to form a complex bouquet that harmoniously unites subtly earthy tones, herbal agave notes, fine toffee, and elegant oak spice.
Palate
The creamy fruit sweetness of yellow pears and ripe peaches is perfectly accompanied by a warming melange of finely spicy oak, creamy vanilla, and dark toffee, while fine wood smoke gently caresses the palate.
Finish
The bright fruit jam leaves a warming impression, which herbal nuances, a hint of dark chocolate, and increasingly dry oak spice let linger for a long time.
Alcohol content
57.8 % vol
RRP
€ 69.90 (0.7 Liters)
Kiliani Edition 2025 – HEDAN – Unpeated (limited to 900 bottles): This year's Kiliani bottling in honor of the Franconian apostle combines Franconian identity with vinophile depth. The mild single malt made from regional organic barley ("Heimatmalt") matured for four years in Dunkelfelder red wine barriques from the Palatinate. A complex whisky with ripe fruit, creamy vanilla, fine spice, and a hint of dark chocolate.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Amber with reddish reflections
Aroma
A lush fruit potpourri of ripe peaches, juicy pears, red grapes, and cherries is elegantly framed by a hint of strawberry sorbet, creamy vanilla, malty depth, and gentle oak spice.
Palate
Juicy notes of peaches, pears, cherries, and red grapes merge into a velvety taste experience of creamy sweetness, fine oak spice, and a hint of pepper, rounded off by delicately dry tannins, malty accents, and dark chocolate.
Finish
Fruity creaminess slowly transitions into an elegant dryness, carried by fine grape skin notes, gentle woody tones, and warming oak spice, which lingers with a hint of cocoa.
Alcohol content
46 % vol
RRP
€ 59.90 (0.5 Liters)
Ex Sherry Oloroso Single Cask – Ultra Heavily Peated (limited to 790 bottles): A statement for lovers of peated whiskies: This single cask bottling was distilled from ultra heavily peated barley malt with a phenol content of 135 ppm (HPLC analysis) and allowed to mature for five years in a single, large-volume Sherry Oloroso Butt made of American oak. A complex, powerful whisky that fascinatingly combines intense peat smoke with the creamy sweetness of light dried fruits, dark chocolate, fine nutty notes, and spicy sherry.
Appearance
Bright amber
Aroma
Intense peat smoke penetrates the nose, revealing fruity notes of sultanas, dried apricots, and dates in the background, accompanied by ripe sherry aromas, a hint of dark chocolate, and fine nutty tones.
Palate
A powerful interplay of peat fire and spicy oak notes is accompanied by the creamy sweetness of light dried fruits, soaked in Oloroso sherry, and rounded off by delicate toffee, dark chocolate, and ashy smoke in fascinating depth.
Finish
The complex combination of creamy dried fruits and ashy smoke lingers impressively long with dry oak spice and fine chocolate pieces.
Alcohol content
59.7 % vol
RRP
€ 99.90 (0.5 Liters)
Available in limited quantities
All special bottlings from the Scorpions tasting can be ordered directly after the online event on July 2nd in the St. Kilian online shop. From July 4, 2025, the limited editions will also be available at the distillery shop in Rüdenau, subject to sufficient availability.
About the Scorpions
The Scorpions are among the most successful rock bands in music history. Founded in 1965 in Hanover by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, the band shaped generations of music fans worldwide with classics such as "Wind of Change", "Still Loving You", and "Rock You Like a Hurricane". With over 100 million records sold, countless sold-out world tours, and numerous international awards, the Scorpions have written rock history. Even after six decades, they stand for energetic live performances, musical innovation, and an unbroken passion for handmade rock. Further information about the band, current projects, and tour dates can be found at www.the-scorpions.com.
About Bravado
Bravado connects music and fashion in a unique symbiosis. We create high-quality, licensed merchandise products that enable an organic, emotional connection between fans and artists. This expertise has made us the leading provider in this field.
With teams in 40 countries, Bravado develops individual strategies for each licensing partner – from opening up new market segments to realizing an artist's creative vision. Our goal: to create brands and memories that last far beyond the music.
Bravado works closely with emerging and established artists and influencers to develop innovative, custom products. These are offered on live tours, in select retail stores, and through online shops. In addition, Bravado licenses rights to a global network of third-party licensees.
As part of the Universal Music Group, we benefit from a globally leading distribution network and the exceptional marketing power of the world's largest record company.
About St. Kilian Distillers GmbH
The German whisky distillery from Rüdenau in Lower Franconia near Miltenberg am Main produces top-class whiskies and liqueurs, which have been awarded over 250 gold medals in the most renowned 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 alcohol consumption, about which you can find information at www.massvoll-geniessen.de. Further information about the company and portfolio can be found at www.stkiliandistillers.com.
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