Säntis Malt

Säntis Malt is made by Brauerei Locher, a family brewery in Appenzell in eastern Switzerland, and takes its name from the Säntis, the highest peak of the Alpstein range. The brewery began making whisky after Swiss law allowed distilling from grain in 1999.

Its signature is maturation in old oak beer casks that once held the brewery's own beer, which gives the malt a soft, malty and often slightly spicy character quite different from Scotch.

The official range is built around editions named after local places: Edition Sigel, the lighter everyday bottling; Edition Dreifaltigkeit, a smoky, peated version; and Edition Himmelberg, finished in wine casks. Buyers will also meet age statements such as the 10 Year Old and occasional special releases like Malt Genesis.

Säntis is mostly bottled by the brewery itself, though That Boutique-y Whisky Company has released independent bottlings.