History

Vienna Craft Distillery (VCD) is a Vienna-based distillery run by Karl Peter Egger. According to the distillery's materials, the site is built around a 150-liter copper still called Mizzy, which was designed after Egger and placed as the foundation for distilling creative gin and later whisky and other spirits. A central part of the narrative is Charles (Karl Peter) Egger and his approach to craftsmanship and natural flavor experiences, as reflected in the quote "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" and in the description of a place that focuses on authentic aromas and local production.

Production / Manufacturing

A great deal of the production follows a human, slow approach. The gin specialty is described through their own production guidelines: juniper from Tuscany or Macedonia, ancient bedrock water with 1.1°dH (at least 1,000 years underground), and organic ingredients where possible. The production is described as small-batch and seasonal, without added oil or flavor enhancers and without too many refined processes. The moment of maceration and distillation is specified as: botanicals, water and wheat distillate macerate for about 28 days, then are distilled, rested at production strength, and bottled and hand-labeled — a total time frame of about 38 days for producing a gin.

Products and Whisky Series

Main focus on gin and other spirits as well as two whisky products: Calafati Whiskey and Kapazunder Sektionschef Single Malt Whisky. - Calafati Whiskey: Marketed as Vienna Single Malt Whisky and the related red corn edition (Red Corn Whiskey). Batch 1 of Calafati was bottled after 48 months of aging in May 2021; there are a total of 268 bottles available. The alcohol content is 50.0% ABV. Bottle sizes are 20 cl and 50 cl. The special secret behind the Calafati whisky lies in the red corn, and the distillation takes place in the Mizzy equipment followed by aging in three different oak casks. - Kapazunder Sektionschef Single Malt Whisky: Ex Caroni rum casks give this single malt a distinctive pattern. It was bottled in January 2023, and 228 bottles were produced. The mash was distilled in Mizzy and then aged in the casks for about 55 months. The described description indicates that this is a smoky and complex single malt, the result of a 150 L copper still and a rum-cask finish.

Visits and Experiences

There is mention of Gin Day, an experience where a gin can be produced by one or more people during the event. According to their site, Gin Day should not involve too many people — at most four to five participants — which suggests an interactive experience and factory-tour-like elements for guests.

Philosophy

The distillery emphasizes "Unverfälschter Geschmack" and natural aromas. They describe a distilling philosophy that focuses on craftsmanship, small batches, seasonal production, and 100% locally produced products in Vienna. They select juniper and water of high quality and strive to avoid the use of additives and colorants. This philosophy is closely tied to their production process and design around gin and whisky, as well as other spirits.