Pioneer with innovative spirit
It all begins with a bet made back in 1994, when the brewer and master distiller Florian Stetter makes an educational trip to Scotland with his master distiller colleagues. He is surprised by the similarities that he finds with his home in Upper Bavaria: mountains, clear water and beautifully clean air.
He is also struck by the occasionally defiant and stubborn nature of the Scots, which seems very Bavarian to him, a difficult-to-pronounce dialect and a strong inclination towards independence. Even the Scottish national dress, the kilt, seems to him to be as idiosyncratic as Bavarian ‘lederhosen’.
The many similarities between the Scots and the Bavarians along with his visits to the world-famous distilleries of the Speyside region inspire Florian Stetter to create an Upper Bavarian single malt whisky. He bets his colleagues a crate of wheat beer that first-class whisky can also be distilled in Upper Bavaria – and wins! Not long afterwards, German whisky is being made at his parents’ Lantenhammer distillery. But that’s just the start of the SLYRS story.
1928
Lantenhammer Distillery is founded by Josef Lantenhammer
1999
Our first SLYRS whisky is distilled
2002
The first bottles of SLYRS are sold (1,600 bottles)
2004
SLYRS KG is founded by brothers Florian and Anton Stetter
2007
The SLYRS whisky distillery is built in Neuhaus by Lake Schliersee
Friends of SLYRS whisky join as shareholders
Hans Kemenater, at Lantenhammer since 1999, takes over production management at the SLYRS distillery
2010
The first SLYRS Finishings PX and Oloroso are released
2014
The SLYRS mountain storehouse is constructed 1,501 metres up at the top of Mount Stümpfling
The first major international prize is won: “Best European Whisky under 12 years” at the World Whisky Awards
2015
Our first SLYRS Aged 12 Years is sold
2016
The first SILD Crannog Single Malt Whisky, distilled at SLYRS, is sold
Caffee & Lunchery opens
2019
The first SLYRS Mountain Edition is released
2021
SLYRS is the leading German single malt whisky brand in the domestic market
SLYRS whisky is represented in approximately two dozen countries worldwide
7 distillers trained at SLYRS and 1 apprentice