Braunstein

Short introduction to the distillery

Braunstein is located in Køge's inner harbor and combines a brew house, microdistillery, café, shop and tastings. It is a place where whisky is created on a small scale, and where maturation is closely monitored cask by cask. For the curious whisky lover, Braunstein is interesting because the house works with classic single malts, single-cask bottlings and exclusive series with very limited numbers of bottles.

History

The story begins with the brothers Michael and Claus Braunstein, who as children fished at Sjællands Odde and helped their grandfather gather bog myrtle, sloe and juniper for spiced schnapps. During a fishing trip in Scotland in 1998 the idea of creating a joint brewery and distillery arose. In 2005 the brewery was established in Køge Harbor, and on 15 December that year brewing was officially carried out for the first time. On 6 April 2007 the distillery opened, and Braunstein thus became a microbrewery with its own microdistillery. In March 2010 Edition no. 1 was released, described as Denmark's first micro-brewed whisky, and since then the house has expanded its whisky identity with warehouses at, among others, Kronborg, Lellinge Hovedgård and Billesborg. In 2013 the first international gold medal for whisky came at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, and that recognition was followed by more tastings, stocks and special releases.

Raw materials and production

Braunstein describes its approach as uncompromising when it comes to raw materials, equipment and the production of new make spirit. The distinctive aspect, however, lies especially in the work with the casks. As a microdistillery, the house can hand-pick casks for maturation and monitor the development in each individual cask month by month. This makes it possible to choose the optimal time for bottling so that each release can have its own expression. The specific product descriptions and tastings show that the range spans from peated and unpeated whiskies to single-cask bottlings and small selections of special releases. There are also documented whiskies matured in different barrels, and the tastings emphasize telling the story of the whisky's creation from field to table.

Maturation and cask types

Maturation is a central focal point. Braunstein works with hand-picked casks and records the development of each individual cask monthly. The history mentions storage in sherry casks and bourbon casks as well as a number of other casks, and the tastings highlight single-cask bottlings from the Billesborg warehouse. There is also documentation of special stocks at Kronborg, Lellinge Hovedgård and Billesborg. The approach is clearly characterized by variation, because releases are deliberately given different individual expressions through the choice of casks.

Whiskies

The whisky range centers around Library Collection, Cask Edition, Special Release and a whisky tasting set. Library Collection is the exclusive series of hand-picked Danish whiskies with very limited numbers and individual expression. Cask Edition encompasses the rare single-cask bottlings from, among others, the Billesborg warehouse, while Special Release and the tasting set offer the opportunity to experience multiple sides of the house. Taken together, the portfolio paints a picture of a producer working in small volumes and letting cask choice and aging be the main character rather than broad, industrial series.

Whisky style and flavor profile

The documented tasting profile revolves especially around the soft and sweet. In the vanilla whisky liqueur the expression leans toward Bourbon vanilla, creamy caramel and cane sugar, while the chocolate whisky liqueur is built on Braunstein's own single malt whisky with chocolate, coffee and cane sugar. At the same time both peated and unpeated whiskies are mentioned in the range, so the house works with a spectrum from light and soft to more pronounced cask and smoke expressions.

Visit the distillery

Braunstein can be visited in Køge's inner harbor, just a few minutes' walk from Køge Station. There is a café, shop and tap room with set opening hours, and the house offers tours, beer tastings, whisky tastings, private tastings, conferences and meeting facilities. Private whisky tastings can be booked as Library Edition with five whiskies and approximately 90 minutes duration or as Cask Edition with six whiskies and approximately 90 minutes duration. Both sessions conclude with one of the brewery's beers, and there is the opportunity to shop in the specialty shop.

The stated opening hours are Cafe & shop: Mon-Thu 10:00-17:00, Fri 10:00-21:00, Sat 08:30-17:00, Sun 10:00-17:00. Tap room: Tue-Wed 15:30-21:00, Thu-Fri 15:30-23:00, Sat 10:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-21:00. Takeaway: Wed 13:00-20:00, Thu 13:00-21:00, Fri 12:00-21:00, Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 11:00-20:00.

Philosophy and craft

Braunstein's whisky philosophy is based on small volumes, close cask monitoring and a willingness to let each bottling have its own expression. It is clear that the cask is not just a container but an active part of the whisky. At the same time the project is connected with a respect for craft and a development from the family's old schnapps tradition to a modern Danish whisky narrative.

Awards and recognitions

• Gold medal (2010, Gold)

• Gold medal (2013, Gold)

• Prize (2015, Gold medal, Danica Gin)