Copenhagen Distillery

About the distillery

Copenhagen Distillery is located in Copenhagen and is an organic craft distillery that works with Danish whisky, Nordic gin, and modern aquavit. Here, whisky is not just a matter of age, but of precisely controlling grain, fermentation, distillation, and maturation. Particularly interesting is the combination of organic Danish barley, a Müller hybrid still, cold-smoking with beechwood, and temperature-controlled maturation in Hungarian oak.

History

Copenhagen Distillery describes its whisky as a Danish interpretation of a Nordic spirit, where character, craft, and science must work together. The distillery’s approach is intentionally not a copy of Scotch, but a search for a Distinctively Danish single malt with a focus on detail rather than volume. The range is built around three whiskies: RAW, REFINED, and RARE.

Maturation is a central chapter in the story. The distillery sees the cask as an active part of the recipe and develops controlled aging where time and temperature are managed with great precision. At the same time, the RARE series is used as an experimental field for new grain types and specially made casks. This includes, among other things, 100% malted spelt in Rare no. 4.

In more recent years, the distillery has made its mark internationally. RAW no. 5 received a Master Award at Global Luxury Masters 2025, and Rare no. 4 won World Whisky Gold. Later, Copenhagen Distillery was named Best Craft Producer in the Icons of Whisky 2026, while master distiller Lasse Öznek was shortlisted among the top three in the world in his category.

Raw materials and production

Production begins with organic Danish barley, which is malted by partner suppliers. During fermentation, the distillery uses brewer’s yeast together with lactic acid bacteria from the grain, and it is precisely this combination that creates complex flavor precursors before the spirit ever reaches distillation. Fermentation typically lasts 24 to 48 hours, and the process is deliberately used to create fruity and floral esters.

Distillation takes place in a Müller hybrid still, and the distillery describes the method as single distillation. This makes it possible to work precisely with the spirit’s structure and purity, while preserving the character of the raw material. Selected batches of malt are cold-smoked after malting, under 30°C, for 12 to 48 hours. Here, beechwood is used in a traditional herring-smoke oven, which gives a discreet Danish smoke profile rather than heavy peat smoke.

The entire production is small-scale and closely controlled. The distillery works with organic ingredients, local Danish raw materials, and techniques inspired by Danish food culture and Nordic flavor expectations. It is whisky production where craft and technique do not stand in opposition to each other, but are used together to shape a very targeted spirit.

Maturation and cask types

Maturation takes place in carefully selected casks, especially virgin Hungarian oak and, in particular, seasoned Hungarian oak casks. RAW no. 5 is matured in non-charred virgin Hungarian oak for an average of 3.5 years, while the distillery also works with toasted casks and specially designed casks for both standard expressions and experiments. The cask is treated as an active ingredient, not just a container.

The distillery also uses a controlled climate in its warehouses. The dynamic temperature is managed using residual heat from mashing, fermentation, and distillation, so the spirit is constantly interacting with the wood. This is a deliberate method to promote oxidation, extraction, and esterification. The RARE series functions as a laboratory for freer development, including new grain types and unusual cask types.

Whiskies

The core of the range is three whiskies: RAW, REFINED, and RARE. RAW is the most straightforward expression, based on 100% organic Danish barley and matured in virgin Hungarian oak. REFINED builds further on the same Danish raw material base, but with cold-smoked malt and especially seasoned casks, giving a more spiced and herb-like profile. RARE is the experimental series, where the distillery uses other grain types and cask concepts; for example, Rare no. 4 is based on malted spelt.

In addition, Copenhagen Whisky appears as an umbrella term for the distillery’s whisky on the product pages. Overall, it is clearly small-scale, and the release format suggests that each batch can have its own expression. For whisky lovers, this means a range spanning from the more direct RAW over the smoky, herb-spiced REFINED to the more distinctive and detailed RARE.

Whisky style and flavor profile

In terms of flavor, the distillery leans toward a style where matured fruit, malt, honey, and spice recur, but without the smokiness becoming heavy. RAW shows stone fruit, heather honey, coconut, vanilla, white pepper, and cloves, while REFINED leans into heather honey, brown toast, licorice, spice, and beechwood smoke. RARE no. 4 adds sweet cereals, dried papaya, green jasmine tea, rock candy sweetness, umami, salinity, raw cacao, and toasted sourdough.

Overall, it paints a picture of a whisky with a clear malt core, controlled wood influence, and smoke that is more Danish and culinary than peat-smoke-heavy.

Visit the distillery

Copenhagen Distillery can be visited by the public with guided tours, whisky and gin tastings, as well as workshops. A typical visit starts with a welcome drink in the cocktail bar, continues with a guided tour of the distillery, and ends with tastings of multiple spirits. A whisky tasting lasts 1½ to 2½ hours depending on the experience, and during the whisky portion, one samples the full whisky portfolio. The bar is open Thursday and Friday 15:00-22:00, as well as Saturday 13:00-22:00, and you can also drop by on selected days if tastings are ongoing. Private events, group visits, and special bookings can be arranged, and experiences should be booked in advance.

The stated opening hours are Thu-Fri: 15:00-22:00; Sat: 13:00-22:00. Call ahead or check updated hours, as the bar may be closed for private events.
See times and book a visit.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

The distillery’s philosophy is consistently formulated around details, precision, and a willingness to work with time rather than against it. Whisky should be Distinctively Danish, and this is achieved through organic raw materials, small batches, hand-selected casks, and technical control in both production and maturation. At the same time, it is emphasized that sustainability is a core principle, not an add-on, and that innovation only makes sense if it also tastes good.

Sustainability

100% organic ingredients are used in the spirits described on the site.
The barley is sourced from organic Danish grain.
Virgin Hungarian oak is sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Environmental responsibility includes energy-efficient production methods and waste reduction initiatives.

Awards and recognition

• Master Award (2025, Won, RAW no. 5)

• World Whisky Gold (2025, Won, RAW no. 5)

• Speciality Gold (2025, Won, dill anise Aquavit)

• Speciality Silver (2025, Won, Coffee spirit)

• Best Craft Producer in the World Whisky category (2026, Won)

Latest news

The Luxury Spirits Masters 2025 – 2025-10-27

Copenhagen Distillery shares news about this year’s international results: RAW no. 5 received a Master Award, Rare no. 4 won World Whisky Gold, and the distillery was also highlighted for its small-scale production, hand-selected casks, and controlled use of temperature and blending.