“Invincible Shield”: St. Kilian Distillers and Judas Priest continue their successful partnership

Metal legends Judas Priest have once again taken the music world by storm. Their latest album “Invincible Shield”, which was released on 8 March 2024, catapulted into the international charts just one week after its release and gave the Brits the number one spot in the German album charts for the first time in 55 years of the band’s history. 

Heavy metal fans and whisky lovers now have another reason to celebrate. As part of its successful partnership with the British band, the award-winning German whisky distillery St. Kilian Distillers is releasing the fifth edition of its Judas Priest Heavy Metal Whisky. The single malt whisky bears the name of the new hit album “Invincible Shield” and will be released at the start of the Wacken Open Air on 31 July 2024.

The latest Judas Priest edition is presented in the iconic heavy metal 0.7-litre bottle. Featuring a striking label with a metal look, the design also takes up the expressive album cover of “Invincible Shield”.

The contents of the bottle are just as powerful as the design. Limited to 7,850 bottles, the heavy metal edition is based on mild, unpeated whiskies from ex Tawny Port casks, which contribute complex notes of dark fruit. A small proportion of equally mild whisky from a fresh Bulgarian oak cask provides a pinch of spice. The gentle smoky note comes from whiskies made from barley malt kilned over a beechwood fire. They round off the rich flavour experience perfectly.

Their 19th studio album “Invincible Shield” has delighted fans and critics alike. Six years after their last album “Firepower”, the British band Judas Priest is once again setting new standards in the heavy metal scene. In addition to international top rankings, they reached number 1 in the German charts for the first time in their 55-year career. The St. Kilian Distillers team is delighted to pay homage to this milestone in the band’s spectacular history and capture a piece of the Judas Priest spirit in a unique single malt whisky.

Available from Wednesday, 31 July 2024

The single malt whisky “Invincible Shield” is neither coloured nor chill-filtered and was bottled in the iconic 0.7-litre bottle with an alcohol content of 47 % vol. The retail price for end consumers is 59.90 euros. The heavy metal edition is limited to 7,850 bottles and will be available from 31 July 2024 from St. Kilian online, directly on site in the distillery shop in Rüdenau and later from well-stocked specialist retailers.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Rose gold

Nose: Delicate wood smoke surrounds the fruit flavours of ripe peaches, red cherries and dark grapes, enriched by soft vanilla, subtle BBQ notes and spicy rye tones.

Palate: Ripe peaches, sweet cherries and juicy raspberries combine to create a tantalising fruit melange, rounded off by warming, subtly spicy rye notes and creamy vanilla, harmoniously complemented by discreet tannins and a hint of smoke.

Finish: The creamy fruit jam continues with increasingly dry nuances of dark chocolate, fine spicy rye tones, warming oak and a hint of smoke that linger for a long time.

Abv: 47 % vol

RRP: € 59.90 (0.7 Litre)

About Judas Priest

With over 50 million albums sold worldwide, Judas Priest from Birmingham are considered one of the biggest and most influential bands in heavy metal. With numerous albums and hits such as “Breaking The Law”, “Living After Midnight” and “Painkiller”, they have been leaving their unmistakable mark on the metal music scene for 55 years now. Their legendary album “Firepower” from 2018 marks the absolute pinnacle of their career. In 2022, Judas Priest was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and honoured with the “Musical Excellence Award”. On the occasion of their 19th studio album, the Judas Priest – Invincible Shield Tour through Europe started in spring 2024. You can find more information at www.judaspriest.com.

About Global Merchandising Services Limited

Global Merchandising Services, founded in 2008 by Barry Drinkwater, is one of the world’s largest exploiters of merchandising rights in the music and entertainment industry and develops innovative international merchandising programmes. From well-known bands and artists, such as Judas Priest, Motörhead and Iron Maiden, to cinema hits and television programmes, the portfolio includes a wide range of diverse products. Based in London and Los Angeles, Global Merchandising Services is the turnkey solution for design, product development, manufacturing and sales across all retail distribution channels: live events, web shops, sponsorship and third party licensing.

About St. Kilian Distillers GmbH

The German whisky distillery from Rüdenau near Miltenberg am Main in Lower Franconia produces top-class whiskies and liqueurs that have been awarded more than 200 gold medals at the most prestigious competitions around the globe. In addition, awards such as “World-Class Distillery”, “Distillery of the Year” and “Whisky of the Year” testify to the top international level at which the young distillery, founded in 2012 by investment banker Andreas Thümmler and in production since 2016, operates with its whiskies.

St. Kilian Distillers supports the responsible use of alcohol, about which you can find out more at https://www.massvoll-geniessen.de/. For more information on the company and portfolio, visit www.stkiliandistillers.com.

Source: St. Kilian Distillers GmbH