The Federal Republic of Germany consists of sixteen constituent states which are home to no less than 250 whisky producers. Half of these are dedicated whisky distilleriers. The rest prioritizes other spirits such as fruit schnaps, but fills the occasional cask of malt or rye throughout the year, too. While the production volumes of the German whisky makers aren’t as gargantuan as those of the Scottish, Irish or American heavy-weights, they still produce a diverse and colorful range of whiskies – many of which are of impressively good quality!

For 16 States, the first indie bottler focussing solely on German distillates, this means that there really is a lot of great stuff to choose from and present to their fans. While I can’t speak about their other bottlings (yet), I can say the following about this here Nine Springs 8 Years Old from a 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrel, which was part of 16 States’ four-piece debut outtake: It totally deserves to be labeled as “great stuff”! It contains all the key qualities of The Nine Springs (which is one of my most beloved domestic whisky brands), and spices these up with some unexpected surprises.

The result: a fully ex-Bourbon cask matured single malt whisky that is rich in color, scent, and taste – and that offers a really complex and exciting tasting experience. If that sounds good to you, go and try this smashing dram for yourselves. It’s a formidable display of just how far the art of whisky making has already come here in my home country!

by Tobi

---

Eye: Shiny fox brown.
Nose: Deep n’ dense with lotsa fruit, spice, jelly, wood, and chocolate. More precisely, I sniff dried apricot halves, chewy apple rings, thick quince compote, and soft toffee bathed in a flood of creamy cocoa. Atop it all, there’s fresh wood shavings, candied ginger, and a pinch of grated nutmeg. Plus lotsa coconut flakes.
Palate: Typical of The Nine Springs, the full-bodied whisky feels milky and oily in the mouth. When I first savored it for this review, it was the first high-percentage sip I had all day. So the overproof strength of 60.7 per cent ABV kicked in noticeably. Along with a pleasant tickle, it also introduced a ton of taste: maracuja yoghurt, citrus jelly, almond paste, vanilla sauce, pineapple chunks … and a Bourbon-y sawmill dryness, too.
Finish: Now the afore-mentioned cocoa note makes a triumphant return, rushing down the throat all sweet n’ creamy n’ savory. It’s accompanied by bright fruits, caramelized nuts, aromatic honey, grated zests, mild spices, and fluffy coconut – all lasting loooong!

---

---

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Region: Germany
Age: 8 years
Alc. volume: 60.7 per cent
Cask type: 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrel
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price: ~79 Euro
More info: https://www.16states.de/ (Bottler) ; https://number-nine.eu/ (Distillery)

*** I borrowed the bottle from my friend Aaron who runs the Drams United blog. ***