History

Kymsee Whisky lies at Chiemsee and the distillery was built in 1994 by Diplom Braumeister Oliver Lange and operated as Chiemseebräu. In 2012 a 300-liter Edel still from Holstein was installed, and the production of Kymsee Whisky began in late summer 2012. The distillery sits directly at the Achendelta, a nature reserve with moor and nearby peatlands, where the water for the whisky comes from Steinweiherquelle. The name Kymsee derives from the old spelling of Chiemsee and gives the whisky distillery its name. It is located in Grabenstätt, Bavaria. According to the producer, Kymsee is a handcrafted product: everything happens under one roof — from mash extraction to distillation and bottling — and it seeks to unite Bavarian tradition with Scottish sensibility and character.

Production

Kymsee Whisky is produced from dark malted barley, delivered by a small, family-owned Bavarian malt mill and containing no additives. The malt is steeped and germinated at a low temperature and then dried at 120 °C to give color and malt aroma. Fermentation uses fresh and active yeast, and it lasts three times longer than usual, according to the text, which is believed to reduce higher, undesirable alcohols and create a more aromatic base. Production apparently takes place in-house, including wort preparation, distillation and finally bottling. Kymsee Whisky is aged in first-fill bourbon casks of American white oak, which gives a multi-dimensional aroma. Tasting notes highlight a deep red-gold color, a soft, but powerful and intense aroma with vanilla, chocolate, honey and hazelnut.

Products / Whisky Series

Kymsee Whisky is described as a single malt and is aged in first-fill bourbon casks in American white oak barrels. In glowing descriptions of the flavor notes, a well-balanced combination of vanilla, chocolate, honey, and hazelnut notes is highlighted, along with an overall powerful and elegant profile with a deep color.

Visits / Experiences

Visits to Kymsee include: - Distillery tour (brewery/distillery tour) of about 1 hour including a small tasting for €12.00 per person. Access requires advance registration by phone or email. - Opening hours for the distillery shop: Tuesday 10:00–17:00; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00–20:00; Saturday 10:00–14:00. - Themed tastings: Booking in the shop or via the contact form. Cancellations of a tasting can only be made up to 14 days before the specific date. Tickets are not personally pre-registered and can be rebooked to another participant. For some tastings, small bottles are offered later for those who want to sample the agreed whiskies. - Themed tasting No. 92–96 with various themes and prices (from €79.00 to €99.00 per participant) and typically includes an introduction to the distillery, a tasting of a Kymsee expression (e.g., Oloroso Sherry Cask), as well as meals and bread.

Philosophy

Kymsee emphasizes a handcrafted, regional product that blends Bavarian tradition with elements of the Scottish whisky identity. The production process takes place under one roof, with an emphasis on slow and gentle distillation and the use of water from Steinweiherquelle to preserve the purity of the ingredients. The distillery claims to be the first whisky distillery at Chiemsee and highlights its historical connection to the area through its name and its location at the Achendelta.