Slyrs Distillery
Bavaria’s only single malt distillery
About Slyrs Distillery
Slyrs comes from Bavaria in southern
Germany, more precisely, from the Slyrs
distillery at Lake Schliersee, the only
Bavarian single malt whisky distillery that
produces significant quantities. Pronounced
“shlooers,” the whisky takes its name from
the lake.
“We wanted a whisky that
tasted lighter and less peaty than some
Scottish brands, and was fresh and fruity as
well,” said Slyrs master distiller, Hans
Kemenater.
Kemenater uses regional ingredients, for
example, mountain spring water from Bavaria
and brewer’s barley from Franconia. He uses
beechwood instead of peat to kiln-dry the
barley, which gives Slyr whisky its
distinctive flavour.
Kemenater has only forsaken his homeland in
one area. The 60-gallon barrels in which the
distillate is stored for at least three
years are made of white oak from the US. “It
is more porous and releases aroma better,”
said Kemenater, 28.
He learned his craft at the family-run
Lantenhammer Distillery, just a stone’s
throw from where the Slyrs Distillery is
located today. Kemenater started out making
Kirsch and the other fruit-based spirits
typical of the region. When Lantenhammer
founded its Slyrs affiliate, he switched to
whiskyThe Slyrs Distillery was founded in
1999. It produces Slyrs Bavarian Single
Malt. This whisky is aged for three years.
Beginning in 2015 the company will be
offering a 12 year old single malt.
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