Featured at World Whisky Day 2022: Eifel distillery is made by husband and wife Stephan and Carolin. Stephan handles the mashing and distilling and Carolin handles the labeling and bottling, hand labeling each bottle. Their whisky is first distilled in a column still and then the second distillation is done in a copper pot still. Their total output is so low, their whiskey is only typically found in the Eifel region of Germany. Thankfully they have an agreement with Anthem Imports, which brings their offerings to the US market in limited releases. The Eifel Single Malt German Whisky was distilled in 2012 and 2013, aged for 4 years in ex-Bordeaux American casks before aging for 4 more years in ex-cream sherry casks. Only 300 cases were made.
Distillery: Eifel
Region: Foreign
Age: 8 years
Strength: 46%
Price: $61.99
Maturation: ex-Bordeaux and ex-cream sherry casks
Location: Koblenz, Germany
Nose: Floral, hops, Meyer lemon, apricot, simple syrup
Palate: Truffle, earth, oak, green pepper, brine
Finish: Earth, lemon
Comments: No water needed. Adding some will take the slight bite off but it mutes the tastes too much to be worth it.
Adam – Some days I have to really search to find the florals in a whisky, even the hint of them. That is not this day. The nose on the Eifel is like a wallop of springtime all at once, followed by some fruit and a little sweetness. You have to dig in to get a handle on fruits as they sort of come at you all at once, crowding rather than queueing. The palate is no wilting violet, however. It’s sweet and bold, ready to cross the Rhine for you. Even better, all the elements are coalesced into one identifiable whole. Some citrus comes back in the finish, which leaves you with a great refreshing sense. I am fascinated by the character and it makes me want to seek out some of the other thousands of other German craft distilleries.
Kate – This smells like spring to me. Like a garden after dew in the spring in the late morning. The palate almost has a bitterness, like cucumbers with the peel still on them. I drink this and I have an internal German Shepherd head tilt. Am I confused? Am I surprised? A little of both?
Bill – This is so light in color, like a Glenrothes. I almost want to open up an Oberan Ale and do a nose-to-nose across bottles.
Like a garden after dew in the spring in the late morning.
Henry – Wow, flowers and sweetness. A nose like the best of the Speyside sherry bombs, with apple blossoms, heather, and world peace blooming at once, with just a hint of green wood. Red fruits and sherry make for a rich and fruity palate, reminiscent of some port finishes but without any trace of cloying. A strong tannic backbone which started out as green wood matures to a not wholly unpleasant astringency in the core of the palate, but it never overpowers the wonderful clarity of the sherry. And not just the sweetness. The brine and the tannin comes through as well. The finish is lingering and comforting, exceptionally balanced just as the entire tasting experience is exceptionally balanced. This is a whiskey rich in detail, and one that deserves to be enjoyed over and over again.
Ben – This does feel a little Germany beer-y. Not like an Oktoberfest, but something more standard like a Pilsner.
