Germany
Slyrs Bavarian Single Malt
- Vanilla
- Sweet
- Fruity
German whisky
Germany has a long tradition of fruit and grain spirits, and in recent decades it has become one of the European countries with the most whisky distilleries, many of them small, family-run businesses. Its best-known name is Slyrs, in Bavaria, by Lake Schliersee at the foot of the Alps. German whisky is varied and often experimental, with unusual grains and casks.
- In the catalogue
- 1 whisky
- Distilleries and brands
- 1
- Most common type
- Single malt
- Peated
- 0 of 1
History, style and where to startIts distilleries on the world map
Guide to German whisky
History
For centuries German distilleries focused on spirits such as Korn, made from grain, or fruit brandies. The first modern German whiskies appeared in the last decades of the 20th century, and in 1999 Florian Stetter, from a family of distillers, founded Slyrs with the idea of making a Scotch-style Bavarian single malt. Its first whisky came out in the early 2000s, and its success encouraged many small producers to try their luck. Today there are whisky distilleries in almost every federal state.
What the law says
European rules apply in Germany: whisky must be made from grain, matured for at least three years in wooden casks of up to 700 litres and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV.
Style and flavour
Slyrs matures its single malt in new American oak casks, which gives a sweet whisky with vanilla, caramel and fruit, and it also has versions finished in wine or sherry casks. The Alpine climate, with cold winters and mild summers, shapes the maturation. Other German distilleries use rye, wheat or spelt, and wine or beer casks.
Flavour profile of German whisky in the catalogue (1 whisky)
Where to start
Slyrs Bavarian Single Malt is the best way to start with German whisky: sweet, with vanilla and fruit, and very easy to compare with a Scotch single malt matured in bourbon casks. If you like it, it’s worth seeking out other small distilleries in the country, which often release limited editions with local grains and casks.
This text was generated and translated by AI and may contain errors.