Location is important – especially when the setting is a historic town located in the South Funen archipelago. But the story starts with passion, interest and an education in quality assurance.

The founder of Ærø Whisky, Michael Nielsen, had nothing but the above when he started Ærø Whisky at home in his garage in 2013. The passion and interest were strong. Combined with a practical education in quality assurance, and an ambition to make some of the world's best Whisky, became Ærø Whisky born.

As with all new ideas, there was Ærø Whisky virtually no means to do good, but passion and ambition would have it different. The interest in taste, and how it can be developed from a few ingredients, drives him to build and develop what is today a well-established whiskydistillery.

All the products to create whisky was present locally on the island, he only lacked the equipment. It also spurred his interest in sustainability and caring for the local community he lived in. Michael is originally a ship captain and at that time worked at Søby shipyard as a dockmaster. In his free time, he gradually began to develop whisky and over the next few years he refined it with local products so that it became a pure Ærø goods. Michael purchased barley from local farmers on Ærø, and there was also interest in traceability from the individual bottle whisky to the individual field.

In 2016, the distillery will be built in an old washhouse behind Købmandsgården in Ærøskøbing. It received the 'Renover special prize' award as a commendable renovation of a 1800th century building. In 2019, the brewery will be established opposite the distillery, and it now stands together as a unit that forms the framework for Ærø whiskyIn the summer of 2019, Ærø Whisky is a limited liability company, and currently consists of approximately 475 owners. The company currently has a professional board of directors, and the daily management is handled by a director.

MILEstone