B – as in Bottle shape

What is special about the St. Kilian bottle?

Our bottle is almost 100% identical in shape to our two copper pot stills. It is, so to speak, a replica of our 6,000-liter copper pot stills, naturally only up to the top of the swan neck.

https://youtu.be/dE4bha-LzTM

How did this special bottle shape come about?

From the very beginning, with our whiskies at St. Kilian, we wanted to make a statement not only in terms of taste but also visually. And we have impressively succeeded in both cases.

Who had the idea for the pot still bottle?

Ultimately, it was our Master Distiller & Blender Mario Rudolf who had the idea for this very special bottle shape and was able to prevail over other internal suggestions.

Where were the bottles manufactured?

The first prototype came from Italy. The idea was that with their excellent taste in fashion and design, the Italians would be the ideal partners for such a project. A technical drawing of our pot stills was sent to Italy, and a short time later we received the first model, printed with a 3D printer.

How was the first draft of the bottle shape received at St. Kilian?

After we held the first design from Italy in our hands, we were absolutely thrilled with the result. Since then, this bottle, modeled after our pot stills, has been the unique selling point of our whiskies with a very high recognition value.

What other features does the St. Kilian pot still bottle have?

The bottle does not have a flat bottom, but rather a deep indentation, a punt, similar to sparkling wine, champagne, or prosecco bottles. A human thumb fits comfortably into it, so you can easily pour our St. Kilian whisky from the pot still bottle into the provided nosing glasses with one hand. In French, this indentation in the bottle's bottom is called "Culot de Bouteille."

What sizes do St. Kilian's pot still bottles come in?

All single malt whiskies – be it our Signature Editions, the numerous special editions, or the Handfilled single cask and Distillery Only bottlings – are filled into the 0.5 liter pot still glass bottle. In contrast, our two single malt whiskies from the Core Range, CLASSIC – Mild & Fruity and PEATED – Rich & Smoky, as well as the limited Fifty Fifty Peated Blended Whisky – a high-proof collaboration with the German Spreewood Distillers – come in the larger, 0.7 liter pot still bottle.

Is only whisky filled into the pot still bottle?

No, since mid-2023, all our liqueurs, which are based on our New Make Spirit or Single Malt Whisky, as well as our whisky liqueur "Liqueur," are also available in a matte black pot still glass bottle.

How big is the original pot still?

Our copper stills – the wash and spirit stills – have a height from the bottom edge to the middle of the lyne arm of exactly 5,005 millimeters, which is just over five meters.