Viborg Whisky Distillery

Kort om destilleriet

Viborg Whisky Distillery is located in Viborg and bases its whisky project on the town's history and local craftsmanship. The whole journey takes shape from the grain grown in Viborg's surrounding area, to the cooper's work with barrels and the historic storage locations the whisky will pass through. The distillery also makes deliberate production choices — such as slow fermentation in its own tanks and distillation with copper contact — to create new make that can be further matured through Viborg's changing seasons.

Historie

The idea to make whisky arose in the autumn of 2023, and the project is based on Viborg as "the city of kings". The founder, Jimmy Steen Rasmussen, did not want to be just another distillery, but to tie the whisky to the town's historic sites and the opportunities for storing barrels in Viborg. The distillery is already actively working to find historic locations for storage. The project also has a clear time perspective: the first bottle is expected in 2028, and the founders club is described as a four-year journey with delivery of single cask bottles starting in 2028.

Råvarer og produktion

Production begins in the field. The distillery grows barley on no-till fields in collaboration with Christian Levard-Bach, and has selected the barley variety Firefoxx for single malt whisky. Quality is linked to high extract and fermentability as well as harvesting when the grain is fully ripe and has a golden color. The wort is produced as clear wort, which is cooled down and pumped into locally produced oak fermentation tanks made of European oak. The long contact with oak is intended to give a lighter, more complex and fruity character. Yeast is added, and fermentation takes place in open vessels, where the result is described as a strong "beer" at 8-10% alcohol. Distillation takes place on copper stills (hybrid), and the distillate is collected in three phases: heads, heart and tails. Only the heart — at approx. 72% ABV — is kept for maturation.

Modning og fadtyper

Maturation relies on local barrels and Viborg's seasonal variation. Barrels are produced by the local cooper, who both inspects barrels upon arrival and makes barrels for the distillery's locally produced whisky. With cold winters and warm summers, the new make gets the opportunity to draw flavor notes from the oak barrel over time. The distillery also mentions that it is actively working to find historic storage sites in Viborg to place whisky barrels.

Whiskyer

Viborg Whisky Distillery's available releases are part of the founders club concept, where members receive four single cask 70 cl bottles bottled at cask strength from each their unique location, with expected start in 2028. This includes the series Initium Nobis I – Prima Lux, Initium Nobis II – Aurea Virtus, Initium Nobis III – Magni Opera and Initium Nobis IV – Ultima Aetas. In addition, an investor bottle called Auxilium is mentioned as well as a pre-sale "Inaugural" bottle reserved prior to public release.

Besøg destilleriet

It is possible to visit the distillery as a private cask owner, where access is also given to cask samples and tastings during the maturation process. Founders club members are described as those who can follow barrels at special storage locations such as the bishop's cellar and the old paper mill in Bruunshåb. On the contact page, inquiries can be made by phone and email for further dialogue about visits and offers.

Filosofi og håndværk

The distillery articulates a clear local focus: everything (that can) is made locally, from the grain in the field to the cooper's traditional craft. The project is also built on a historical foundation in Viborg and emphasizes finding historic places to store barrels. In production, emphasis is placed on extended contact with materials and copper contact during distillation as well as slow fermentation in oak to create a spirit that allows room for complexity in further maturation.

Bæredygtighed

Cultivation on no-till fields.