Private Cask
Your whisky barrel
Your private cask in 6 steps
From the construction of the barrel to the label – we have thought of everything.
This is the path of your private cask:
Buying your own whisky cask
Your personal St. Kilian whisky – this is a 30-liter cask specially made by our cooper from the wood, the pre-fill and the recipe of your choice. Whether mild or smoky, sweet and vanilla or fruity and spicy – you decide how you want your whisky to taste.
After just three years in the small oak casks, the spirit matures into an aromatic whisky with depth and complexity – and is ready for bottling in our iconic pot still bottle (0.5 liters). One barrel makes up to 50 bottles of your whisky – individually labeled by hand, of course.
Whether as a special gift for friends or colleagues, for special occasions or simply for yourself: We make it possible for you to have your own private cask!
1. construction of your private cask
Every year, we produce a limited number of customer casks. We have the small private casks rebuilt at great expense by a cooper from well-deserved large casks in which bourbon or sherry, for example, was previously stored.
2. selection of your barrel
What should your whisky taste like? Depending on this, you select an available cask type in which your single malt should mature. You can choose from virgin oak casks (American white oak or European oak), bourbon and sherry casks.
3. filling your barrel
We fill your cask with 30 liters of our smoky or mild distillate, straight from our Scottish copper stills – with an ideal 63.5% alcohol content by volume for the perfect maturation of the whisky.
4. three years maturing time
Your private cask matures into genuine single malt whisky in our cask store over a period of three years. Part of the spirit evaporates in the process – the so-called “Angels’ Share”. By the way: once a year, you can visit your cask at our distillery during this time and taste a sample.
5 Bottling and labeling
The time has finally come: your whisky is bottled – at cask strength and with an individual label. A private cask produces up to 50 bottles of 0.5 liters each – depending on the exact filling quantity and evaporation during maturation.
6. your private cask is ready
Bottled and labeled, your own whisky is ready – for personal collection or shipment.
This is included in the Private Cask package
The price of a private cask depends on the type of cask, recipe and exact fill quantity and ranges between 2,700 and 3,200 euros. This is included in the Private Cask package:
- Barrel
- Distillate (mild or smoky recipe)
- Storage in our warehouse
- Barrel label with individual dedication
- Bottling at cask strength (up to 50 bottles of 0.5 liters)
- High-quality labeling
- All applicable taxes (VAT and alcohol tax)
- Insurance of the barrel
By the way: Cask owners are welcome to visit us and their cask in Rüdenau.
Frequently asked questions about our whisky casks
What cask types and recipes are available for the Private Cask?
We have a variety of 30 liter barrels in our range. You can choose between fresh oak casks (virgin oak), bourbon, various sherry, port, red wine, sweet wine, rum, vermouth casks and many more. However, not all types of wood are always available. Therefore, ask our team in advance about the current stock. We will be happy to help you with your selection.
Will I have to pay any additional costs for the Private Cask?
Not usually. This is because the price of a private cask already includes the cask, the filling, the three-year storage, the individual cask label, the filling into our 0.5 liter pot still glass bottles, their labelling, all applicable taxes and the insurance of the cask. Should you wish to store the cask for longer than three years, you will incur additional costs. After emptying, the cask is yours in any case.
Can I visit my whisky cask?
With pleasure. Once a year, you can visit your barrel at our distillery and taste a sample directly from it. Please let us know in advance so that we can take enough time for your visit.
How does maturation take place?
The filled 30 liter customer barrels mature in our specially equipped customer barrel warehouse directly in the distillery in Rüdenau.
How is bottling done?
After three years of maturation, the private cask is emptied and filled directly into our iconic 0.5 liter pot still glass bottle without chill filtration or artificial colouring. These bottles are hand-painted with our labels, the front of which you are welcome to customize.
What is the capacity of the whisky cask?
We have our 30-liter private casks hand-built by a cooper from large barrels that have been pre-aged with sherry, bourbon, port wine, etc., with great effort. Each cask is therefore unique. For this reason, the filling quantity of the individual barrels can vary from 30 liters by a few liters.
How is my whisky cask stored? Is it insured?
In our customer warehouse in Rüdenau, the casks are stored horizontally with the closed bunghole facing upwards in specially manufactured steel racks. Insurance for your caks is already included in the purchase price.
What is the alcohol strength and Angels Share?
The 30-liter private casks are filled with either mild or smoky spirit, which has an alcohol content of 63.5% by volume, and stored in Rüdenau. The average volume loss (“Angels’ Share”) of the small casks is between 3 and 9 percent per year. Depending on the exact filling quantity and the loss through evaporation during maturation, a private cask produces up to 50 bottles of 0.5 liters each with an alcohol content of between 50 and 60 percent by volume in the vast majority of cases.
Can I store my whisky cask at home?
That is of course also possible. Contact us and we will clarify the necessary formalities with you.
Arrange a visit
Are you interested in a private cask and would like to find out more? Then make an appointment with us right away. We can advise you personally about your whisky on site at the distillery or online.
