Craft Spirits · Austria
Craft Spirits Distilleries in Austria
Tour 9 craft spirits distilleries in Austria. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Destillerie Rogner, Destillerie Farthofer, Haider Whisky (Roggenhof).
9distilleries
Whiskydestillerie J. Haider — see Roggenhof
Whisky experience world in the Waldviertel
Peter Affenzeller Distillery
Mühlviertel whisky with two tastings
About craft spirits distilleries in Austria
Few countries pack as much distilling depth into so compact a space as Austria. The foundation is the Edelbrand tradition, fine fruit brandies that, by law, may contain nothing but fruit, yeast and water, no added sugar, colour or flavouring. That purist culture, sustained for generations across Tirol, Styria, Salzburg, Upper Austria and Lower Austria, gave the country a deep bench of skilled distillers long before whisky or gin arrived. When they did, Austria's craftspeople were ready. The Waldviertler Roggenhof under the Haider family pioneered Austrian whisky in 1995, with a particular flair for rye; Reisetbauer turned its fruit-brandy mastery toward premium gin and single malt; and a new generation, from organic-minded Destillerie Farthofer to design-led Aeijst, has broadened the picture further. Across the listed producers, Destillerie Rogner, Peter Affenzeller, Broger Privatbrennerei and the rest, you'll find brandies, whiskies and gins made on the same meticulous principles. For the visitor, Austria offers something unusual: distilleries where a single tasting flight can span an Edelbrand, a rye whisky and a craft gin, all made under one roof by people obsessed with their raw materials.
Craft spirits in Austria: styles & how it's made
Austrian craft spirits rest on the Edelbrand tradition, fruit brandies distilled to a strict purity standard from local pears, apples, plums, quince, rowan and more. Reisetbauer's estate, planted with thousands of fruit trees, is a vivid illustration of this orchard-to-glass ethos, and its brandies sit alongside more unusual carrot, ginger and service-tree distillates. From this base, distillers branched out. Whisky took on a distinctly Austrian rye character in the Waldviertel, where Haider's Roggenhof leads, while gin arrived as a premium, juniper-led spirit, exemplified by Reisetbauer's Blue Gin. Producers such as Destillerie Farthofer add an organic dimension, Aeijst a contemporary aromatic style, and Broger and Peter Affenzeller their own regional signatures. The common thread is small-batch, hands-on production with relentless attention to the raw fruit and grain and clean cuts on the still, the same discipline whether the result is brandy, whisky or gin.
Where to taste craft spirits in Austria
Austria's diversity of spirits is matched by the spread of its distilleries. The Waldviertel in Lower Austria is the country's whisky heartland, home to Haider's Waldviertler Roggenhof and Destillerie Rogner, the latter also producing gin. Lower Austria additionally hosts Destillerie Farthofer, with its organic estate approach. Upper Austria is brandy-and-gin country: Reisetbauer near Kirchberg-Thening is the must-visit, while Peter Affenzeller's distillery doubles as a polished visitor destination. For a western, alpine experience, Broger Privatbrennerei in Vorarlberg covers whisky, brandy and gin in a single small family operation, and Aeijst offers a more contemporary take. Because so many of these producers make multiple categories, a single visit often lets you taste across the entire spectrum, an Edelbrand, a single malt or rye, and a craft gin, side by side.
Planning a trip
With distilleries scattered from the eastern Waldviertel to alpine Vorarlberg, an Austrian craft-spirits trip works best when planned region by region. Lower Austria, including the Waldviertel, lets you combine Haider's Roggenhof, Destillerie Rogner and Destillerie Farthofer across a day or two of gentle countryside, ideally reached from Vienna by car. Upper Austria, anchored by Reisetbauer and Peter Affenzeller, makes a natural second leg from Linz. Save Broger and a wider alpine swing for a separate journey through the west, as the distances are considerable. These are predominantly small, family-run businesses, so confirm opening hours and book tours in advance. The big payoff of Austrian distilleries is the breadth of the tasting flight, so take your time and ask to compare across categories. Rural public transport is limited, so drive and arrange a designated driver, and buy at the cellar door, as many bottlings are produced in small, sometimes single, runs.
Frequently asked
- What does 'craft spirits' mean in an Austrian context?
- It spans the full range of small-batch distilling the country is known for: traditional Edelbrand fruit brandies, single malt and rye whiskies, and premium gins. Many Austrian distilleries make several of these categories, so the term captures a whole distilling culture rather than a single drink.
- What is Edelbrand?
- Edelbrand is Austria's fine fruit brandy, made by law from only fruit, yeast and water, with no added sugar, colouring or flavouring permitted. It is the foundation of Austrian distilling, and producers like Reisetbauer built their reputations on it before moving into gin and whisky.
- Can I taste brandy, whisky and gin at one distillery?
- Often, yes, and it's a highlight of visiting Austria. Producers such as Reisetbauer and Broger Privatbrennerei make multiple categories, so a single tasting flight can move from an Edelbrand to a rye or single malt to a craft gin, all made on the same premises.
- Which Austrian craft distilleries are worth visiting?
- The producers featured here include Haider's Waldviertler Roggenhof and Destillerie Rogner in the Waldviertel, Destillerie Farthofer in Lower Austria, Reisetbauer and Peter Affenzeller in Upper Austria, and Broger Privatbrennerei and Aeijst in the west. Most welcome visitors for tours and tastings.
- How do I plan a craft-spirits trip across Austria?
- Go region by region. Combine Waldviertel and Lower Austria distilleries in one leg, Upper Austria's Reisetbauer and Peter Affenzeller in another, and fold Vorarlberg's Broger into a wider alpine journey. Drive between sites, book ahead, and arrange a designated driver.
- Are Austrian craft spirits hard to find outside the distillery?
- Some can be, as production is typically small-batch and occasionally single-cask. Visiting the distillery is often the best way to taste the full range and buy bottles, including limited or special editions, that may not be widely available elsewhere.