Macardo Swiss Distillery

With our new building, constructed around a cheese dairy that is over a hundred years old, we are continuing a tradition of enjoyment - the Macardo Swiss Distillery. In the cheese dairy building, which was built in 1904, high-quality raw materials have been processed into first-class specialties for generations. In the past it was cheese, today it is whiskies, spirits, vieilles and marc distillates from Macardo. We distill them by hand, gently, in small quantities and according to traditional methods. As one of only a few Swiss distilleries, we still distill with fire. We hold on to this craft. Fire is part of our identity and our philosophy. Combined with innovative technologies and a sustainability concept that is unique in the industry, we create fine distillates in Strohwilen that bear our signature.

"We still burn with fire today. We hold on to that tradition."

Craft

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Craft

Mashing, fermenting, distilling, maturing - step by step and all by hand. We grind the malted grain for our whiskies in our own mill, handpick the fruit for our Vieilles, and make the mashes ourselves - according to strictly guarded recipes, with selected yeasts and water from our own spring. At Macardo, we distill exclusively in small batches - for the sake of maximum quality.

Raw materials

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Raw materials

A Macardo always starts with the selection of its raw materials: The water comes from our own strong source. The grains and fruits are supplied to us by our neighbors: Thurgau farmers whom we know personally. Together we determine when barley, corn, rye, apples, apricots or plums are ripe for refinement. From then on, it's short steps. Only for our award-winning Macardo Rum do we take longer routes. The sugar cane molasses come from sustainable plantations in India and Nicaragua.

Burning

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Burning

Macardo still distills with wood fire, in two specially made for us 100L and 200L stills. There is a lot of experience and knowledge in our distilling process. And just as much future. Our new building project enabled us to implement a sustainability concept that is unique in the distillery scene, which begins far before the distilling process. Time, patience, and excellent sensory analysis are equally important components in extracting a few liters of the finest distillate from one hectoliter of mash.

Refinement

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Refinement

The quality and excellence of our distillates depend 40% on the raw materials and the distillation process and 60% on the barrel and its storage. The characteristics of the barrel, the microclimate in the barrel storage, the temperature, the tuned humidity, but also the time during which the distillate is allowed to mature, influence the taste enormously. Therefore, Macardo searches for and buys new and used barrels worldwide and stores its specialties in the most innovative barrel storage facility in the world. During this finishing process, the aromas, tannins, resins and flavors from the wood condense with the distillate to create unique palate pleasures.

Sustainability

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Sustainability

Our energy concept is unique: The distillery is powered by wood and solar energy. Production is adjusted to the current weather conditions. The mashes are boiled up when the solar system provides a lot of power. The waste heat from the distillery is fed to the ground-source heat pump, the wood for the distillery comes from local forests, and the distillery waste is fed to a nearby biogas plant.

Products

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Products

Macardo Swiss Premium Whisky enjoys a broad, international reputation, as evidenced by its numerous awards. In professional circles, it is called "THE SWISS ONE", the Swiss among the world-class whiskies. However, Macardo does not only stand for excellent whiskies. With the same innovative strength, the range has been steadily expanded. Today, it also includes gin, sloe gin, rum, vodka, vermouth, vieilles and marc brandies. They all bear our signature. And are distilled with fire - in exotic Strohwilen.

Master Distiller

Macardo Master Distiller Bartholomäus Fink is a luminary of the art of distilling. At Macardo, he watches over the two stills, the barrel cellar, and the secret recipes of the mashes and yeasts. He also tinkers with inspiring product innovations together with owner Andy Bössow. The Vorarlberg native knows his way around whiskey, gin, vodka and rum as well as he does fruit and pomace spirits. His nose for the exclusive barrels in which the Macardo creations mature to perfection is unique. No distance is too far for him to find the perfect barrel.

The most innovative drum storage in the world

Our drum storage system is a world first. Innovation, made in Switzerland. We call it "Drum Storage 4.0". It was developed together with the Technical University of Winterthur. Each barrel is stored on a steel beam. Each beam is equipped with a force measuring system. Fully automated, the data of barrel content, temperature and humidity are determined daily and transmitted to a central computer via Bluetooth.

Learn more

Here you can find Macardo products

The old cheese dairy from 1904 shines in new splendor after an extensive renovation. But the building is not only a jewel of architecture, it is also an important monument that must be preserved. The Macardo Swiss Distillery has now found its home on the first floor.

The distillery impresses with two copper stills and a high level of craftsmanship and tradition. Distillation is carried out according to traditional methods that have been passed down for generations. Particular attention is paid to the use of wood from the region and the use of solar energy obtained from the roof of the distillery.

Macardo Swiss Distillery is a modern distillery that offers tours. Here is not only produced, but also knowledge is imparted. Visitors learn what effort is behind the production of whiskey, gin, rum, fruit distillates, grappas and liqueurs.

The result is something to be proud of: high-quality spirits that not only delight the palate, but also fill the heart. Because in every bottle there is a lot of craftsmanship, tradition and passion. The Macardo Swiss Distillery focuses on quality instead of quantity and you can taste it.

If you are looking for a special gift idea or simply a special drop for your own enjoyment, you will find it here. The products of Macardo Swiss Distillery are not only something for connoisseurs and lovers, but for all who appreciate the special.