Historie

• Hans-Gerhard Fink is based in the Swabian Alb and built his business from agricultural roots and a fascination with distillation and fruit brandy. The gathering of experience began as a fruit- and brandy-distilling hobby and developed into a fully developed whisky distillery.
• In 1999 the first new make was produced from our own grown malted barley and wheat, and in 2002 the first bottles of Schwäbischer Whisky were launched.
• In the years that followed, experiments with different grain varieties from our own breeding were conducted, and wine- and Port-finishes were introduced as part of the maturation process.
• In 2010 the finch® brand was registered, and in 2012 construction of a larger Pot Still and a factory capacity of around 250,000 L of new make per year began, enabling professional whisky production.
• In 2013–2014 the range was expanded with Albfink® products and new packaging, and in 2016 the company's headquarters moved to Heroldstatt, where finch Erlebniswelt was planned and later realized.
• In 2017 a new website with online shop was launched, and from 2023–2024 finch® Erlebnisgelände was opened and celebrated with an opening day in October 2024. In addition, ongoing development of the distillery and experience areas in the region continues.
• Today the core remains the production of finch® Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky as well as Albfink® and other one-off releases and limited editions, with a focus on craftsmanship and locally grown raw materials.

Produktion/Fremstilling

• Whisky is produced from our own grown grain: barley and wheat from our own fields are malted and used for the mash, from which the new make is produced.
• The raw materials are stored and aged in different cask types, including wine casks and Ex-Bourbon casks (and in some cases Ex-Islay Quarter Cask), which provide different flavor profiles, from fruit and vanilla to smoke and peat.
• The products are presented and bottled without cold filtration and without the addition of colorants; the color comes solely from the casks and aging.
• Bottles are filled at 0.5 L (some special editions come in other sizes) and the alcohol strength typically ranges from about 40% to 60% ABV, depending on the edition.
• Guided tours and tastings are also offered at the distillery, as well as on-site shop checkout and direct sales via the finch® shop and Regiomat solutions at the new facility.

Produkter / Whisky-serier

• DistillersChoice Barrique R 10 Years – 10-year-old whisky, aged in specifically selected Rotwein casks (Barrique). Bottle 0.5 L, 42% vol. Rosin-vanilla-chocolate notes.
• DistillersChoice Single Malt Smoky 10 Years – 10-year-old single malt, aged in Weinfässer and Ex-Islay Fässer (finishing/aging). 46% vol. Smoky/oaky notes.
• FINESELECTION Classic – Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky based on wheat and barley malt from our own breeding fields; 40% ABV; available as 0.5 L and 0.2 L sizes.
• Private Edition Single Malt 12 Years – 12-year-old single malt, initially aged in Ex-Bourbon casks and finished in Sherry casks; 56.4% ABV; 0.5 L; highly limited (282 bottles) and naturally not cold-filtered.
• DistillerStears 60/1 – A 12-year-old single malt, aged in red wine cask and later in Ex-Islay Quarter Cask; cask-strength, complex with chocolate, peat/malt, honey and fruit notes.
• Berg 2024 Beer Finish (Edition Berg) – A special edition where the whisky has finished in a beer-based cask from Berg Brewery; detailed notes of fruit and caramel after the finish.
• Dinkel Port Cask – Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky based on Dinkel (spelt) from our own fields; 10 years in port wine casks; fruity and sweet notes from port wine.
• DistillersChoice Barrique R (repeated name) – Repeats the description of aging in Barrique casks, rosin-vanilla-white chocolate notes as in the Barrique R version.
• DistillerSears 60/1 and other limited editions – Includes Emmer edition, Enemir editions and similar distillery-only releases with special finishes and higher alcohol strengths.
• PrivateEdition/Edition Berg and other limiteds – Includes different finishes and special cask arrangements such as beer-finish or beer-cask finishes.

Besøg / Oplevelser

• Finch® Whisky Distillery offers a visit to their shop area and distillery experiences, including guided tours and tastings, as well as outlet prices via the distillery outlet.
• The shop is open Monday to Friday (9-13) and Thursday 9-17, with extra opening before Christmas in 2025; there is also a Regio shop (Regiomat) near their new office and facility.
• Distillery tours and tastings are offered on fixed and special dates; events and tastings are regularly planned, including Burns Night and a tour/tasting with tapas, as well as Whiskywanderung and other events in 2026.
• Partner events (e.g., Whisky&Dine in Köhlers Krone) and events in their own network are highlighted as part of the experiential offering.

Filosofi

• Finch marks itself with the motto Der Whisky vom Hochland der Schwäbischen Alb – Higher - Better - Handcrafted, which reflects a focus on highland location, craftsmanship and regional ingredients.
• The use of our own grain and artisanal production are central elements; the colors and flavor nuances come exclusively from cask aging and natural processes, without artificial colorants.
• There is an emphasis on the relationship between the land, malt and maturation, as well as an understanding of Aqua vitae (the water of life) as part of the whisky and the traditions surrounding the distilling culture on the Swabian Alb.