Y – as in Yield

What does Yield mean?

From a production engineering perspective, "yield" is the English term for output or return.

https://youtu.be/w4XOO9JUVpA

What does Yield refer to?

It refers to the amount of pure alcohol obtained during the production of new make spirit after the second distillation, including the amount of alcohol in the foreshots and feints. This total amount of spirit produced, expressed in liters of pure alcohol (LPA), refers to a specific amount of raw material, namely one ton of barley malt.

What is a liter of pure alcohol (LPA)?

As with other alcoholic beverages, the alcohol content of the contents in volume percent must be stated on the label of whisky bottles. At St. Kilian Whisky, this alcohol content is at least 46% by volume. Accordingly, a 1-liter bottle (1,000 ml) of this whisky contains at least 460 ml of pure alcohol.

What is the yield at distilleries?

Distillery yield is typically calculated based on weekly production figures. At Scottish whisky distilleries, the yield typically ranges between 390 and 420 LPA per ton (to) of barley malt. At St. Kilian, we achieve an average yield of around 400 LPA/to of malt. This means that our alcohol yield is precisely in the range that Scottish distilleries achieve with their equipment.

What is the significance of Yield for distilleries?

Barley malt, as a raw material, is expensive. Malt simply costs money. This means that the more LPA are achieved per ton of barley malt, the more cost-effective the production process becomes. However, this alcohol maximization results in intensive leaching of the malt and, in particular, the husks during mashing. These husk extracts can, on the one hand, impart unpleasant flavors to the wort, and on the other hand, disrupt fermentation and thus possibly negatively influence the formation of desired aromas during fermentation. Therefore, at St. Kilian Distillers, the highest alcohol yield is not pursued at all costs; instead, the focus is always on the best possible quality while maintaining economic efficiency.

Does Yield have another meaning?

The term "yield" can also be considered from a financial perspective. Here, yield stands for return on investment or, simply put, for interest or return.

Whisky as an investment?

You can invest money, for example, in real estate or stocks, collect silver or gold coins, or even invest in whisky. If – like St. Kilian Distillers – you produce single malt whisky of very good quality and in not too large quantities (= “Rarity”), then a certain value is created. From the perspective of St. Kilian's founder and owner, Andreas Thümmler, who is also an investment banker and venture capitalist, "whisky as an investment" is a lucrative alternative to conventional financial investments.

Which whisky bottles should one collect?

It depends on buying and collecting the right brands. This requires a lot of know-how and a good instinct. According to Andreas Thümmler, whiskies from distilleries that have a good brand name and produce manageable quantities (premium brands) are very lucrative for a long-term investment. This also includes limited edition whiskies from St. Kilian.

Are there increases in value for whisky?

Yes, absolutely. If you have built up a veritable collection and track its value, you will find that there may well be increases in value. Looking at the value development of Scottish whiskies over the past forty years, average value increases of more than ten percent are certainly within the realm of possibility.

Is investing in whisky a risk?

Yes! Like any investment, investing in whisky carries risks. In the event of a total loss, the liquid contents always remain as a consolation. However, investing in whisky can usually be considered at least value-preserving. In times of significant inflation, however, it may even be value-increasing.