Gin · Austria
Gin Distilleries in Austria
Tour 5 gin distilleries in Austria. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Destillerie Rogner, Destillerie Farthofer, Aeijst.
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About gin distilleries in Austria
Gin came to Austria comparatively late, but it landed with quality rather than quantity in mind. The pivotal moment was 2006, when Hans Reisetbauer released his Blue Gin and effectively introduced premium craft gin to the country. Today Austria's gin scene reflects the same values that built its renowned fruit-brandy tradition: a fixation on raw materials, small batches and uncompromising cuts. Reisetbauer Qualitätsbrand remains the standard-bearer, its Blue Gin produced just once a year from harvest to bottle, but it is far from alone. Destillerie Farthofer in Lower Austria works to an organic, estate-driven philosophy; Destillerie Rogner brings its Waldviertel know-how to the spirit; the contemporary house Aeijst pursues a more aromatic, design-led style; and Broger Privatbrennerei carries the tradition into alpine Vorarlberg. What unites them is provenance. Many Austrian gins lean on local fruit, herbs and pristine water, drawing on the same expertise that makes the country's Edelbrände so respected. For visitors, this is a chance to taste gin made by distillers who treat it with the seriousness of a fine brandy, often in intimate, family-run settings where the maker pours your flight themselves.
Gin in Austria: styles & how it's made
Austrian gin grew directly out of the country's Edelbrand culture, and it shows. The benchmark is Reisetbauer's Blue Gin, an elegant, juniper-led dry gin built from many hand-selected botanicals and produced in a single annual run, a level of care that signals the broader Austrian approach. Across the scene you'll find a preference for premium, small-batch methods over mass production, often on the same modern pot stills used for award-winning fruit brandies. Destillerie Farthofer brings an organic, farm-to-bottle ethos; Aeijst leans into a refined, aromatic contemporary style; and producers like Destillerie Rogner and Broger Privatbrennerei add their own regional accents, from Waldviertel herbs to alpine character. Local botanicals and exceptionally clean water are recurring themes. The overall house style tends toward balance and precision rather than the heavily flavoured 'New Western' gins of some markets, reflecting distillers who came to gin as masters of the still.
Where to taste gin in Austria
Austria's gin makers are spread across several regions, which makes a tasting trail as much about scenery as spirits. In Upper Austria, Reisetbauer near Kirchberg-Thening is the essential stop, an estate planted with thousands of fruit trees, where Blue Gin sits alongside the brandies that made the family's name. Lower Austria offers two contrasting visits: Destillerie Farthofer with its organic estate approach, and Destillerie Rogner in the Waldviertel, better known for whisky but a worthwhile gin call too. For something more design-led and contemporary, seek out Aeijst. Travel west to Vorarlberg for Broger Privatbrennerei, set in alpine surroundings near Lake Constance. Because most of these are working family distilleries rather than slick visitor centres, tastings are personal and relaxed, and you'll usually be able to compare the gin against the house brandies in the same sitting.
Planning your visit
As with Austrian whisky, the gin distilleries don't sit conveniently in one place, so it helps to organise a trip by region. Upper Austria is the natural anchor for Reisetbauer and is easily reached from Linz. Lower Austria, including Destillerie Farthofer and Destillerie Rogner, makes a good base for those starting near Vienna or touring the Waldviertel. Broger in Vorarlberg is best combined with an alpine or Lake Constance journey rather than an eastern itinerary, given the distance. These are small operations, so check opening hours and book tours ahead rather than dropping in. Tasting flights are the smart way to explore a producer's range, and many will happily show you the gin alongside their fruit brandies for context. Rural public transport is sparse, so plan to drive and nominate a designated driver, and remember that limited annual runs like Blue Gin can sell out, so it's worth buying at the cellar door.
Frequently asked
- When did craft gin take off in Austria?
- The turning point was 2006, when Hans Reisetbauer launched his Blue Gin, widely credited with introducing premium gin to Austria. Since then a small but quality-focused scene has developed, including producers such as Destillerie Farthofer, Aeijst, Destillerie Rogner and Broger Privatbrennerei.
- What is Austrian gin like?
- It tends toward precision and balance rather than heavy flavouring, reflecting distillers who came from the country's celebrated fruit-brandy tradition. Reisetbauer's juniper-led Blue Gin is the benchmark, and many producers lean on local botanicals and clean alpine water, with several offering organic or estate-driven styles.
- Which Austrian gin distilleries can I visit?
- The producers featured here include Reisetbauer Qualitätsbrand in Upper Austria, Destillerie Farthofer and Destillerie Rogner in Lower Austria, Aeijst, and Broger Privatbrennerei in Vorarlberg. Most are family-run and welcome visitors for tours and tastings, though booking ahead is advisable.
- Can I taste gin and fruit brandy together?
- Yes, and it's one of the pleasures of an Austrian distillery visit. Because gin here grew out of the Edelbrand tradition, producers like Reisetbauer typically pour their gin alongside their fruit brandies, letting you appreciate the shared craftsmanship in a single tasting.
- Why is some Austrian gin made only once a year?
- Reisetbauer's Blue Gin, for example, is produced in a single annual run with extensive hand work, from harvesting the juniper to bottling. This small-batch approach reflects the quality-over-quantity philosophy common across Austrian craft distilling, but it does mean popular bottlings can sell out.
- How should I plan a gin tasting trip in Austria?
- Organise it by region. Use Upper Austria as a base for Reisetbauer, Lower Austria for Farthofer and Rogner, and fold Vorarlberg's Broger into a wider western or alpine trip. Drive between distilleries, book tours ahead, and arrange a designated driver as rural transport is limited.