History Sauerländer Edelbrennerei began as a hobby venture in Sauerland and grew into a fully operating distillery. According to the company's site, it was founded by a small team who built on experienced craftsmanship and a close connection to their homeland. Over time they moved to a modern production facility in April 2016 and established a tasting room and an activity around welcoming visitors to the production. Each objective blends tradition and innovation, with the celebration around fire, creative collaboration and craftsmanship playing a central role. The initiative remains driven by a small, dedicated group consisting of production, marketing and IT/administration, who together drive the business forward.

Production / Manufacturing

General Principles

The distillery emphasizes craftsmanship over full automation and uses modern techniques to support traditional processes. They claim that distillation accounts for at least a quarter of the flavor experience, and that the entire production flow is optimized around taste and aromas.

Fermentation and Raw Materials

According to the page, local building blocks such as malt from Sauerländer-Gerste are used, and fermentation plays a significant role in shaping fruity and malty notes. The duration of the fermentation period and the steps taken during fermentation typically influence fruity and aromatic notes in the spirit.

Distillation and Technique

The distilling technique is described as particularly aroma-conscious and is adapted between pot still and fractional distillation methods to achieve the desired aroma profile and smoothness. It also mentions a special steam injection and the use of special catalysts as well as adaptive condensation rates to achieve a mild and complete distillate.

Maturation and Finishing

The raw whiskey undergoes a two-stage aging process: in the first year the raw distillate is stored in red wine casks as part of an exclusive prefinish phase in collaboration with a unique winery. Thereafter it is aged in bourbon casks, which provides vanilla, chocolate and caramel notes. The final color, without colouring, comes from natural aging, and they later move toward approximately three years or longer of cask aging, depending on the series. The products are bottled at around 46.2% ABV, and it is noted that chill-filtering is not performed.

Growth and Business Model

Sauerländer emphasizes that nature, fresh air, green meadows and local ingredients contribute to their unique profile. They focus on producing German whisky without copying Scottish rules, and emphasize a human approach to quality and flavor without fully automated production.

Products / Whisky Series

• Thousand Mountains Whisky (Mc Raven Single Malt Whisky): A Sauerländer single malt based on 100% malt from local malt, finished in red wine and Kentucky Bourbon casks with an alcohol strength of around 46.2% ABV. The profile emphasizes a mild, fruity and malty character with craftsmanship evident at every step. Notes of vanilla, malt and green fruits are highlighted.
• Salty Raven – Bad Sassendorf Edition (2023, 2024, 2025): A joint edition across several years of a single malt, available in larger bottle formats and as 0.7 L bottles. Available as part of the house's offerings and also as a 2.1 L set.
• Peaty Raven #3 – Ex-Islay Cask Special: A peated variant of the Raven series, with higher ABV and a pronounced smoky profile.
• Braven – Single Malt Whisky: Another version in a 0.7 L bottle, recognizable as part of the Thousand Mountains range.
• Olo Raven – Single Malt Whisky: Another variant in the Thousand Mountains series.
• Stefen 1624 – DeStefani Single Malt Whisky: A related single malt under the Thousand Mountains umbrella.
• Mc Raven – Single Malt Whisky (0.7 L, 0.04 L, and Cask Strength): Including a 0.04 L variant and a high-ABV crossover with Cask Strength editions.
• Thousand Mountains – 16 States – Single Cask Whisky: A single-cask edition with pronounced cask profiles and a larger selection of casks.
• Malts of Germany – Thousand Mountains, The Nine Springs, Stonewood, Fading Hill, etc.: German-made single malts from the same producer, shared in the Malts of Germany collection.
• White Raven – New Make / Rohbrand and White Raven 0.5 L: New Make and early-distilled raw distillate, distinct from fully aged whiskies.
• Stefen 1624 – DeStefani Single Malt Whisky and other collaboration products mentioned in catalogs and related product pages (e.g. The Spirits Alchemist series and other collaborative projects) show that the portfolio spans from bespoke gins and liqueurs to special spirit projects.

Visits / Experiences

• The company describes a tasting room and a shop on site, and they mention the possibility of visiting the production facilities. Odense and tastings are mentioned in relation to the experiences, for example that one can visit in Bad Sassendorf or directly at the distillery, and there is an option for private tastings during events at the house. There is a strong emphasis on personal contact and flavor experiences in combination with the distillery's statements.

Philosophy

• Sauerländer highlights a deep respect for nature in Sauerland and an integrated approach to ingredients and distilling expertise. They insist on 100% malt from local malt varieties, a goal of a mild, fruity and honeyed aromatic structure, and a manual technique without full automation. Their philosophy is to preserve a natural color without additives and to let the water — well water from their own source — contribute a small amount of flavor and purity. They remain committed to not using chill-filtering, viewing it as a compromise in flavor, and they pride themselves on the process, where every step is important for the overall flavor experience.

Summary

• The Thousand Mountains and related series represent Sauerländer Edelbrennerei's focus on regional origin, craftsmanship and a balance between tradition and innovation.
• The products range from single malts to special editions and collaborations, including Peaty Raven and Salty Raven, as well as the Malts of Germany collections.
• The company emphasizes direct sales and delivery, as well as opportunities to visit the distillery and the House of the Guest.