Italian whisky is showing a new maturity, shaped by an approach increasingly grounded in the agricultural supply chain and in direct control of raw materials. Stilium, an Italian whisky released by Birrificio 2 Sorelle, is a case in point.
From Barley Cultivation to a First Peated Whisky
The company, based in Piedmont and founded in 2011 as an agricultural and brewing operation, has built a whisky production system that begins with barley cultivation itself. “In Castellazzo Bormida, the arable fields now provide the ingredients for malting and for the wash produced in the brewery facilities,” says Federica Toso, co-owner of Birrificio 2 Sorelle. “Stilium took shape in 2021, and the first release was a peated expression, selected as a single cask after three years of maturation.”
Stilium, from Recipe to Maturation to First Release
The recipe finds its balance on a base of 84% barley malt — about a third of it peated — plus 10% smoked wheat malt and 6% rye malt. “Piedmontese barley malt gives the distillate a warm, rounded profile, while finishing in ex-Barolo barriques adds a structural component tied to wine and territory. The first release, intentionally limited, totals just 426 bottles,” adds Pietro Terrasi, brewer and head of production.
Stilium’s Aromatic Profile
On the sensory side: “The color is light amber. On the nose you find ripe apricot, candied fruit, honey, and vanilla. Then notes of chocolate and tobacco. The palate is rough and peppery, with an almost wine-like, tannic edge. The finish is long, with returns of wood, sweet peat, and orange.” In a single sip: Stilium.
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In partnership with Birrificio 2 Sorelle
Photo by Emanuel Florentin x Coqtail – all rights reserved
