North Funen Distillers
About the distillery
North Funen Distillers is located at Egebjerggård north of Otterup and operates in a half-timbered house from the 1700s, which gives a clear local setting to the building. Here, Fyn ingredients meet whisky and apple brandy, and the distillery is especially interesting for whisky lovers due to its Fyn interpretation of classic Kentucky corn whisky styles and its flagship AppleBrandy.
History
A distillery in the historic setting at Egebjerggård
North Funen Distillers is based in the beautiful, rural surroundings by the manor house Egebjerggård, about 10 km north of Otterup. The old half-timbered house from the 1700s creates an idyllic setting for the distiller’s craft and is used as a place where quality natural ingredients are turned into tasting experiences. The story is closely tied to the location, to North Funen, and to the desire to create spirits with a distinct local imprint.
Raw materials and production
North Funen Distillers works with Fyn ingredients and takes a very hands-on approach to the craft. For the apple brandy, only organic apples are used, including Holsteiner Cox, Gala Must, Rød Aroma, and Elstar, and the fruit is harvested, hand-picked, and sorted by the distillery itself to ensure quality. In Kentucky Tribute, corn is the clear key ingredient, and the expression is deliberately inspired by bourbon and moonshine as it was made in America over 100 years ago. The style is underlined by the use of carefully selected American white-oak bourbon barrels, while the whisky’s flavor profile gets a light smoky note. It creates a picture of a production where ingredient choice, tradition, and barrel selection are the central tools.
Maturation and barrel types
The apple brandy is aged in port wine barrels, where it meets the soft, rounded complexity of port wine. Kentucky Tribute is aged in untreated, charred oak barrels and is supplemented with American white-oak bourbon barrels, pulling it toward a classic American barrel exposure. Here, maturation is not decoration, but an active part of the style, where especially the oak and previously filled barrels help shape the whole.
Whiskies
The range on the official site is small and focused. Kentucky Tribute is the distillery’s whisky and is described as a young but hopeful tribute to the classic Kentucky corn whisky styles, while AppleBrandy is highlighted as the flagship. This results in a portfolio with two clear tracks: a corn-driven whisky with American inspiration and a fruit-based brandy that shows another side of the house. For whisky lovers, it means a program with just a few releases, where identity is carried by clear ingredients and confident production choices.
| Whisky | Type / series | Barrel and style | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Tribute | Untreated charred oak barrels and American white-oak bourbon barrels; smoked/peaty | A Fyn tribute to the classic Kentucky corn whisky styles, aged in untreated charred oak barrels and inspired by American bourbon and moonshine tradition.; Nose: Clear aroma of corn with a hint of smoke.; Taste: Well-balanced, corn is prominent and not too sweet.; Finish: Complex and warm finish. | Current; Core range; Webshop | |
| AppleBrandy | Apple brandy | Port wine barrels | The distillery’s flagship, made from hand-picked, sorted, and organic apples and aged in port wine barrels.; Nose: Ripe apples with a hint of vanilla.; Taste: Tart apples meet the soft and rounded complexity of port wine. | Current; Core range; Webshop |
The style and flavor profile of the whiskies
Kentucky Tribute offers a clear aroma of corn with a hint of smoke, a flavor where the corn stands out without becoming overly sweet, and a complex, warm finish. AppleBrandy smells of ripe apples with a hint of vanilla, tastes of tart apples, and finishes with the soft and rounded complexity of port wine. Together, they reflect the three directions that characterize the house: corn, fruit, and a moderately smoky edge.
Visit the distillery
North Funen Distillers can be visited by writing to info@northfunendistillers.dk. The visit takes place at Egebjerggård in the rural surroundings north of Otterup, where the old half-timbered house from the 1700s forms the setting for the experience. You’re invited to stop by and experience both the atmosphere and the taste of North Funen, and there is also a webshop if you want to buy the products.
Philosophy and craft
The distillery works based on a clear respect for Fyn ingredients and for the craft involved in turning them into spirits. The fruit is harvested, hand-picked, and sorted internally to ensure quality, and in the whisky, traditional American models are used as a starting point. The philosophy is therefore both local and methodical: quality through ingredients, care in sorting, and a deliberate choice of classic techniques and barrels.
Sustainability
Organic apples are used for the apple brandy.