V – for Virgin Oak
Welche Holzarten sind in der EU für die Reifung von Whisky in Fässern erlaubt?
According to the European Spirits Regulation 2019/787, which we are of course subject to, it is not mandatory for whisky to be matured exclusively in oak casks. Instead, the maturing containers only have to be made of wood with a maximum capacity of 700 litres. This gives us the opportunity – in contrast to Scotland – to mature our spirit in chestnut, wild robinia, beech or cherry barrels. This is one of the reasons why St Kilian is so keen to experiment.
Which type of wood is most commonly used at St Kilian?
As in many distilleries around the world, most of our New Make matures in oak barrels. These are often former bourbon barrels from the US, but we also use barrels that were previously filled with sherry, port, cognac, rum, beer or wine. We also use a large number of virgin oak barrels.
What is a virgin oak barrel?
A virgin oak cask is a freshly made oak cask that has been prepared either by charring or toasting inside, but has not yet been filled with whisky or other spirits (or wines, beers, etc.). Each type of oak contributes different flavours to the maturing distillate, although these can of course vary depending on the origin of the wood and the type of barrel.
What makes Swedish oak so special?
Swedish oak gives the whisky a pleasant flavour with nuances of pepper or other spices. In addition, Swedish oak tends to release fruity elements such as apples or pears into the distillate. Fine herbal notes and floral aromas complete the profile that this wood gives the whisky. The St. Kilian bottling of a single malt whisky from 2023, matured in a previously unused Swedish oak cask, impressively confirmed the variety of flavours of this wood.
What flavour profile characterises Hungarian oak?
Hungarian oak is characterised by its intense spiciness, which is usually noticeable with notes of cloves or pepper. In addition, Hungarian oak enriches the whisky with dark fruit flavours such as plums, sultanas or dried fruit and gives it a subtle sweetness that rounds off the whisky’s flavour profile. At St. Kilian we like to use barrels made from fresh Hungarian oak. We often get these from the company Dolium, which sources its wood from the south-east of Hungary.
What can you expect from fresh Spanish oak?
The flavours that fresh Spanish oak imparts to the maturing distillate are similar to those of fresh Hungarian oak. It produces flavours of dried fruit such as sultanas or dates and can contribute vanilla notes and a subtle creamy sweetness. In addition, spicy notes such as cinnamon and cloves are characteristic of Spanish oak.
How does the American white oak differ from the European oak species?
Many barrels of fresh American white oak are stored in our warehouses in the Bunker City. This is known for its pronounced vanilla notes. Thanks to the abundant presence of whisky lactones in this wood – ring-shaped esters known for their characteristic coconut flavours – the maturing whisky develops a creamy texture. Typical for whiskies made from American white oak are also caramel notes and a clear presence of oak wood, which is accompanied by spicy elements.
Are the different types of wood solely responsible for the flavour of the whisky?
No. During cask maturation, the flavours of the whisky are also influenced by a variety of other factors, including the length of maturation, the size of the cask, the type of warehouse and the climatic environment in which the casks are stored.
