St. Kilian at the Spencer Hill Festival in Gubbio/Italy
The most iconic Bud Spencer and Terence Hill fan meeting
From July 27 to 30, 2023, the 20th Spencer Hill Festival took place in the picturesque town of Gubbio in the heart of Italy. The only official international event dedicated to the most popular Italian acting duo of all time, Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. Every year thousands of fans from Italy and all over Europe gather to pay homage to the heroes of their childhood and celebrate the legendary films of the two icons of Italian cinema.
Under the bright Italian sun, the exclusive event offered a comprehensive program full of activities and attractions. In addition to a food mile in true Italian tradition, beer temples as well as various bars, the St. Kilian Whisky and Liqueur Store attracted numerous fans and connoisseurs. The St. Kilian team around founder and owner Andreas Thümmler as well as managing director Philipp Trützler had their hands full to cope with the enormous demand for the high-quality Bud Spencer and Terence Hill whiskies. The full-bodied St. Kilian liqueurs Bud Spencer "Feuerwasser" and Terence Hill "Voll auf die Nuss" as well as the brand new banana cream liqueur Bud Spencer "Banana Joe" also found favor with the festival participants.
Over four days, visitors celebrated not only the Bud Spencer and Terence Hill whiskies and liqueurs, but also well-known and new live acts as well as star guests, and got their money's worth at stunt shows, games and film screenings.
The absolute highlight was the appearance of the patron and patron of the festival, the legendary Terence Hill. At the age of 84, Mario Girotti, as the Italian actor's real name is, stood on stage dressed in Western attire and to sustained applause from his fans. Visibly moved, Terence Hill thanked his fans in Italian and German and announced a new, beautiful and entertaining western film. At his side were his son Jess, Maria, the wife of his partner Bud Spencer, and their children Cristiana and Giuseppe Pedersoli.
The crowning finale of the Spencer Hill Festival was the personal meeting of the St. Kilian team with the charismatic film star. Terence Hill also took a few snapshots with his German friends.
Bud Spencer and Terence Hill at St. Kilian - The genesis of the success story
Shortly after the successful launch of the first St. Kilian single malt whisky, Bavaria Sonor Licensing (BSL) and St. Kilian Distillers GmbH came into contact in 2020. At the time, BSL, a division of Bavaria Media GmbH, was aiming to expand the product world around Bud Spencer and Terence Hill throughout Europe with licensing cooperations and corresponding licensed products.
"As a big fan of Bud and Terence, I didn't hesitate and agreed immediately. We quickly came to an agreement and soon after the first whisky editions were released under the Bud Spencer and Terence Hill label," Andreas Thümmler recalls in an interview with Double Trouble magazine.
Starting in November 2020, the mild as well as smoky whiskies of St. Kilian with their heroes Bud Spencer - The Legend and Terence Hill - The Hero were gradually created in Rüdenau, exceeding all expectations. At the same time, the Bud Spencer and Terence Hill liqueurs, based on the St. Kilian New Make, were developed and successfully launched. Fans of the Italian cult duo and the St. Kilian distillery are equally enthusiastic about the products, and new ones are being added every day.
Since then, the two movie heroes have accompanied St. Kilian and are an integral part of the extensive whiskey and liqueur range of the still young distillery. You can read even more information about Bud Spencer and Terence Hill at St. Kilian in the exclusive interview by St. Kilian founder and owner Andreas Thümmler for Double Trouble magazine.