Whisky Issues European Distilling
Issue 161 | Whisky Magazine 19W
here-ever in the
world grain can be
grown, a supply of
clean and pure water
is at hand and yeast
can be delivered to order, whisky can be
made. Since the end of the 1980s the sales
of whisky have seen steady growth. Many
small distilleries and breweries, more
often than not family-owned, decided to
ride that wave. Next to schnapps, gin, fruit
liqueurs, vodka and brandy they set their
stills to produce a distillate from grains.
Most West-European countries have used
that route. Our European contributing
editor assembled an alphabetical
overview per country and emphasises
this is not a complete list, arguing tongue-
in-cheek that ‘it seems to me every new
day brings not only a new whisky, but
also a new distillery’. Those are the days.
Austria
The pioneer among Austrian whisky
distillers is Johan Heider, who started to
make whisky in 1995, in Roggenreith.
The same year Reisetbauer in Kirchberg
came on steam. 2002 witnessed the
birth of Destillerie Weutz in St. Nikola im
Saustal and 2004 Old Raven. Today
they are joined by a baker’s dozen of
small liqueur and schnapps producers
who make small amounts of whisky on
the side.Belgium
The Belgian Owl in Liege is the front-
runner in this country. However they
are not alone in their endevours. Jenever
manufacturer Filliers makes a whisky
called Goldlys. The two other players
are Radermacher and Gouden Carolus,
among other smaller ones.Czech Republic
The Czechs have been around in the
whisky world for some time, albeit it
mainly on their domestic market. Gold
Cock Distillery has been making whisky
since 1877 and produces two different
expressions. They are hardly seen
outside the country.Denmark
Braunstein (in Copenhagen), Fary
Lochan (Give) and Stauning (Skjern)
form the threepointed spearhead of
Danish whisky producers. In 2015 drinks
behemoth Diageo invested £10 million in
Stauning. Braunstein grew from a beer
brewery; this brand is slowly conquering
export markets and can be found on the
DFDS Seaways ferry from Newcastle to
IJmuiden. A few others have joined the
ranks, such as Aarhus, Aero and Sall.