From Aquavit to Award-Winning Whisky

For generations, Denmark was known for aquavit, craft beer and a national ability to drink schnapps at lunch without anyone blinking an eye.

Whisky? That was Scotland’s territory. Maybe Japan’s too.

But the rules of the game have quietly changed.

At The Luxury Spirits Masters 2025, one of the most respected global competitions for premium spirits, Copenhagen Distillery’s “Raw No. 5” took home the Master medal — the highest possible award in the luxury whisky category.

Not bad for a distillery located on the island of Amager in Copenhagen, better known for bicycles, creative startups and a certain Scandinavian sense of calm confidence.

Denmark may be new to whisky compared with Scotland’s centuries-old tradition, but when Nordic creativity meets craftsmanship, surprising things happen.
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A New Kind of Nordic Whisky

If traditional Scotch whisky often tells a story of peat smoke, foggy highlands and ancient stone warehouses, Copenhagen Distillery tells a different story.

Their whisky reflects modern Nordic design philosophy — clean, precise and quietly bold.

Raw No. 5 is part of the distillery’s RAW, REFINED and RARE collection. The names sound almost like a minimalist fashion line, but the concept is simple: experiment, refine and push boundaries.

The whisky itself is made with:

Instead of copying traditional Scotch styles, Copenhagen Distillery focuses on expressing place, ingredients and creativity. The result is a whisky that feels distinctly Nordic — balanced, elegant and just unconventional enough to stand out.

Apparently the international judges agreed.

Because when the tasting panels finished their blind evaluations, the Danish newcomer ended up at the top.

Scotland and Japan may have built the whisky world — but Copenhagen just reminded everyone that innovation still matters.
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Copenhagen’s Craft Distillery Scene Is Booming

Copenhagen has quietly become one of Europe’s most interesting cities for craft spirits. In recent years, small experimental distilleries have appeared alongside the city’s already famous food scene.

Visitors often come to Copenhagen for places like Tivoli Gardens, the restaurants behind the New Nordic Cuisine movement (https://bestof.dk/new-nordic-cuisine/) or simply to experience the relaxed Scandinavian lifestyle.

But increasingly, they’re discovering the city’s modern craft distilling culture too.

Copenhagen Distillery is at the center of that movement, combining laboratory-like precision with a playful approach to flavour. It’s the kind of place where whisky feels less like tradition — and more like innovation in a bottle.

For whisky lovers, it’s a refreshing reminder that great spirits can come from unexpected places.
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Taste the Danish Spirit (Literally)

Founder Rune Elíasson has often described the distillery’s mission as creating spirits that reflect Danish creativity, curiosity and craftsmanship.

That philosophy shows up in everything they produce.

Alongside whisky, the distillery also creates award-winning craft gin, aquavit and experimental small-batch spirits, often exploring unusual botanicals and fermentation techniques.

If you’re curious about the global whisky scene, you can explore more about international whisky traditions through resources like the Scotch Whisky Association (https://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/) or the World Whiskies Awards (https://www.worldwhiskiesawards.com/).

But increasingly, Denmark is entering that conversation too.

And Copenhagen Distillery is one of the reasons why.
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Visit Copenhagen Distillery with Best of Nordic

The best way to understand great whisky isn’t reading about it.

It’s tasting it.

At Best of Nordic, we regularly arrange private distillery visits, tastings and exclusive experiences in Copenhagen for incentive groups, corporate events, and curious travelers.

A visit to Copenhagen Distillery can include:

And because this is Copenhagen, the evening doesn’t have to stop when the tasting ends.

We can turn the experience into a full Nordic evening event with dinner, DJs, rooftop bars or even gourmet food trucks — whatever suits your group.

If you’re already planning a Nordic trip, you might combine it with other unique experiences across the region. Our Best of Nordic stories are a good place to start exploring:
https://bestof.dk/stories/
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A Toast to Danish Whisky

Denmark may be new to whisky compared with Scotland.

But sometimes the most interesting ideas come from places that don’t feel bound by tradition.

Copenhagen Distillery’s victory at the Luxury Spirits Masters 2025 is more than just a medal — it’s proof that the Nordic region continues to reinvent itself in unexpected ways.

And occasionally, those reinventions come in a glass.

Skål.