History

Feindestillerie Gerhard Büchner lies in Langenbogen near Süßesee in Saxony-Anhalt and works with a range of production forms closely linked to the region's fruit-bearing raw materials. The distillery is described as a Feindestillerie, not merely copying Scottish traditions, but aiming to develop something unique, woven together with Salzatal and the region's fruit cultivation. The distillery notes a long tradition in the area; they also mention the production of their own liqueur wines, brandy and later whisky as a dedicated passion. Their history includes, among other things, the use of the region's fruits, and that whisky in their version aims to be anchored in the specific region rather than imitate other distilleries.

Production / Manufacturing

Production takes place in their modern Brennerei near Salzatal, with capacity for large-scale production of whisky and other products. They describe the use of a 150-liter water-bath still (Helm) with tubes and Verstärker as well as a dephlegmator. Their facilities include a catalyst with over 50 m² copper surface to reduce ethylcarbamates and to preserve the purity of the distillate. There is electronic control for separating the run (Vor-, Mittel- and Nachlauf) and the possibility of sensory evaluation of the distillate.

The distillation materials are regional: the malt is sourced from Landsberg Mälzerei, and there is mention of the use of fermented mash and malting in accordance with the region's raw materials. They describe a slow and gentle distillation to preserve the fruit character in the brandy and whisky production. The production also mentions the possibility to produce up to 8,000 liters of whisky mash per day after the construction of the new building.

Typical aging regimes for Salzatal Whisky include various caskings such as Bourbon, Port and Sherry casks as well as finishes in fruit casks such as Apricot or other liqueur wine casks from the region. Common threads are that they finishing or finish in special casks creates their unique character in combination with the region's fruit and grape varieties.

Products / Whisky Series

Salzatal No. 1 – Apricot Cask Limited Edition (2019)

• 0.7 L, 54% vol.
• Aged 8 years in four different casks, with a final finish in an Apricot Cask in the last 2 years.
• The casks start in Bourbon, continue in a French red wine cask, then in a Sherry cask, and end with a 2-year finish in an Apricot Cask.
• Mild, with notes of apricot, vanilla, caramel and honey, as well as a malt character.
• The production was limited to about 610 bottles; the first 25 bottles were kept in-house.

Salzatal Whisky 10th Anniversary Edition (2021)

• 0.7 L, 54.9% vol.
• Aged 10 years in Sherry cask No. 5 (Andalusia, Spain).
• Notes of fruity Sherry, oak notes, vanilla and dark chocolate with an elegant and balanced finish.
• Release issued to celebrate the 10-year anniversary in a limited edition.

Salzatal Limited Edition – Cherry Cask (2021)

• 0.7 L, 57.8% vol.
• Rich golden amber color; finish in sour cherry liqueur wine cask for 4 years.
• Limited to about 600 bottles; the bottles are numbered.

Salzatal – The Cask Edition (Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Black Currant, Surprise)

• 0.375 L bottles, 43% vol. Finishes in various fruit liqueur fashions.
• Usually based on a 5-year Bordeaux cask and a further 2-year finish in a fruit cask, then bottled in 0.375 L bottles for the Cask Edition.
• Includes the 4 other variants in the same series (Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Black Currant, Surprise).
• Available as 6 x 0.375 L tasting set.

Salzatal Whisky No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 (Single Malt)

• No. 1: 43% vol. Aged at least 8 years distributed as 2 years Bourbon, 2 years Port wine and at least 4 years in Sherry casks. A two-malt profile and a range of cask variants give notes of floral, chocolate, vanilla and honey.
• No. 2: 43% vol. Aged at least 6 years (3 years in Rotweinfass and 3 years in Sherryfass). Light floral character with notes of chocolate and vanilla.
• No. 3: 43% vol. Use of Pilsenermalz, Caramel malt and a dry, typically malty character; aged at least 3 years in Rotwein- and 3 years in Sherryfass; mild-fruity character with fruit and a hint of chocolate, vanilla and honey.
• All No. 1, 2 and 3 are designated as Salzatal Whisky; they are single malts from Salzatal.

Salzatal Single Grain

• 45% vol.
• Single Grain Whisky from Salzatal, produced by distilling fine wheat and aged in a French Port wine cask.

The Fruity – Liqueur Wine (Port-, Dessert-, Liqueur-wine style)

• Five varieties of liqueur wine without added sugar, produced from pure fruit juice and fermentation stopped after about three days.
• Alcohol 20% vol.; aged at least 2 years in oak casks (driven by the region's fruit aromas).
• Contains fruit varieties such as Apricot, Cherry, Black Currant, Apple and Surprise (Rhubarb). The flavors highlight fruit aromas and are suitable for cocktails or enjoyed neat.

Liqueur Wines – Port wine and Sherry-inspired products

• Some products are described as fruit liqueur wines, delivering rich aromas without added sugar and with natural fruit flavors.

Edelbrände – Brandies from Salzatal (8-year cask maturation)

• Cask-aged Edelbrände with 8 years of aging in oak casks, prepared from regional fruit and wine derivatives.
• Examples: Apple cask-aged, Apricot cask-aged, Quince juice, Pears (Williams-Christ), Zwetschge, Trester Brand (grape seeds), etc.
• The production follows a strong belief in preserving fruit aromas and avoiding added flavors or exaggeration through the use of modern technologies.

Wines and wine-like products

• The company also sells wines from German wine regions through partnerships, with selected German quality wines and information on grape varieties and regions (Rheinland-Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Saale-Unstrut, m.fl.).

Visits / Experiences

• Tastings are offered directly at the Brennerei in Langenbogen and at the Halle branch (Oleariusstr. 4), as well as the option for Tasting at Home.
• There are regular events and opening hours for the distillery and its branch, as well as various regional festivals, including Destillerie Hoffest and Advent at the Distillery, with opening times and the possibility to book tastings and gift vouchers.
• Tasting in the Hallmarkt shop or in Langenbogen is possible, including special 3-hour tastings that introduce the history and process behind Salzatal Whisky and products.

Philosophy

• The aim is to distill Edelbrände at the highest level and to develop whisky that does not try to imitate Scotland but is anchored in Salzatal and the surrounding Obstanbaugebiet by the Süßer See.
• They place a high value on the region's raw materials and use locally malted malts from Landsberg and fruit and wines from the Saale-Unstrut region.
• The production emphasizes slow, gentle distillation and the use of copper and special classical distillation methods; a catalyst and copper surfaces are used to ensure distillate purity and reduce unwanted compounds.
• They stress the importance of not adding unnecessary aromas, and that aging and cask choice are central to their unique regional whisky profile.