Craft Spirits · Switzerland
Craft Spirits Distilleries in Switzerland
Tour 8 craft spirits distilleries in Switzerland. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Langatun Distillery, Liquid Spirit Distillery (nginious!), Brennerei Schwab.
8distilleries
About craft spirits distilleries in Switzerland
Switzerland's craft-spirits culture is built on a long farm-distilling tradition and a more recent burst of creativity in gin and whisky. For generations, Swiss farmers and brewers distilled fruit, and that heritage still underpins much of what the country produces today: rich, hearty, locally rooted spirits made in small batches. The modern craft scene was unlocked in part by the 1999 repeal of the wartime ban on grain distillation, which opened the way for single malt and helped spark wider experimentation. The producers gathered here capture that range. nginious! from the Liquid Spirit Distillery has been an innovator in gin since 2014; Langatun, with a family lineage back to 1857, is among the country's best-known whisky houses; Rugenbräu Distillery brings Alpine spirits to the Bernese Oberland; and Z'Graggen Distillerie, Brennerei Schwab, Säntisblick Destillerie, Macardo Swiss Distillery and Zurich's Turicum Gin round out a scene that spans gin, single malt and fruit spirits. Visiting Swiss distilleries means tapping into precision, mountain ingredients and genuine craft, often in spectacular settings. From city tasting rooms to high Alpine whisky trails, the country offers an unusually varied spirits journey for its size.
Craft spirits: styles & how they're made
Swiss craft spirits cover gin, single malt and a deep tradition of fruit distilling, and the categories often overlap at a single producer. Fruit eaux-de-vie and farm spirits are the historic base, distilled in small batches from local produce, and many of today's craft distillers, Z'Graggen, Macardo and Säntisblick among them, retain that hearty, locally rooted character. Single malt is the youngest category, made possible by the 1999 repeal of the grain-distillation ban; Langatun draws on a family history dating to 1857, and Rugenbräu adds an Alpine voice, with brewery heritage and beer-cask maturation a recurring Swiss signature. Gin is the most experimental strand: nginious! from the Liquid Spirit Distillery distils botanical groups separately and uses native Swiss herbs, while Turicum makes a London Dry in central Zurich. Across all three categories, the common ingredients are mountain water, local botanicals and a small-batch, craft mindset.
Where to taste craft spirits in Switzerland
Because Swiss distilleries are scattered across the cantons, tasting craft spirits doubles as a tour of the country. Zurich is a strong starting point for gin, home to Turicum and linked to nginious! The Bernese Oberland around Interlaken offers Rugenbräu Distillery amid classic Alpine scenery, while canton Bern anchors a visit to Langatun for single malt. Central and eastern Switzerland bring farm-distilling depth through Z'Graggen Distillerie, Brennerei Schwab, Säntisblick Destillerie and Macardo Swiss Distillery, several of which make gin, whisky and fruit spirits under one roof. Eastern Switzerland is also home to the celebrated Appenzell Whisky Trek, often called the highest whisky trail in the world, which weaves spirit into a mountain hike. With many producers operating on set days or by appointment, planning a route of two or three distilleries and booking ahead makes for the most rewarding trip.
What to expect on a tour
Swiss craft distillery tours are intimate, knowledgeable and frequently multi-category. These are small, often family-run operations, so you're likely to be hosted by people directly involved in production, and a single visit may move from fruit spirits to gin to single malt, finishing with a tasting flight that spans the range. Whisky-focused stops, such as Langatun and Rugenbräu, highlight Switzerland's distinctive cask work and brewery heritage; gin visits like Turicum or nginious! explain botanical sourcing and blending; and farm distilleries such as Z'Graggen, Macardo and Säntisblick show the country's deep eau-de-vie roots. Tours run in German, French or English depending on the canton, and the most distinctive experience, the Appenzell Whisky Trek, takes tasting into the mountains. Group sizes stay modest and many sites are appointment-only, so confirm opening days, languages and tasting arrangements before you set out.
Frequently asked
- What craft spirits is Switzerland known for?
- Three strands stand out: a long tradition of fruit eaux-de-vie and farm spirits, a young but characterful single malt scene led by names such as Langatun and Rugenbräu, and an inventive gin culture exemplified by nginious! and Turicum. Many distilleries produce across all three categories.
- Why did Swiss craft distilling grow recently?
- The 1999 repeal of the wartime ban on grain distillation was pivotal, opening the way for Swiss single malt and helping spark wider experimentation. Combined with a long farm-distilling heritage and a 2010s surge in craft gin, it shaped today's varied scene.
- Which Swiss distilleries can I visit?
- Many in this guide welcome visitors, including Turicum Gin in Zurich, Rugenbräu Distillery in the Bernese Oberland, Langatun in canton Bern, and farm distilleries such as Z'Graggen Distillerie, Brennerei Schwab, Säntisblick Destillerie and Macardo Swiss Distillery. Most are small, so booking ahead is best.
- Can I combine several Swiss distilleries in one trip?
- Yes, and it's a great way to see the country. Zurich works for gin, the Bernese Oberland and canton Bern for whisky, and central or eastern Switzerland for farm spirits. Eastern Switzerland also offers the Appenzell Whisky Trek for a hiking-and-tasting day.
- What languages are Swiss distillery tours in?
- It varies by region, as Switzerland is multilingual. Tours may run in German, French or English, and smaller distilleries can have limited language options. It's worth asking when you book to confirm availability.
- What is the Appenzell Whisky Trek?
- It is a whisky trail in eastern Switzerland's Appenzell region, often described as the highest whisky trail in the world. Running across several mountains with Alpine huts where you can taste Swiss whisky, it offers a memorable way to combine craft spirits with hiking.