Thornæs Distillery – Organic Whisky in North Zealand

Craft Distillery with a Focus on Quality

Thornæs Distillery is a small, passionate craft distillery where production is carried out manually in small batches. Quality and unique flavour experiences are top priorities, and the distillery’s product range includes whisky, gin, and aquavit.

The Stillman’s job – or “still-mand” in industry terms – is to manually open and close the valves at the right time to ensure the production runs smoothly. To maintain consistently high quality, the Stillman must also taste the spirit to distinguish between the good and the bad.

Tours and Tastings

The distillery offers tours several times a week, where guests can learn about the entire process from malt to whisky. Along the way, you will see how water, yeast, and malt are transformed into whisky, the distillation process, and why the spirit is aged in wooden barrels. The distillery offers various types of tours depending on interest, time, and budget, but all of them end with a tasting of some of the distillery’s products.

The Farm Shop

In the distillery’s cosy shop, you can purchase the distillery’s products as well as related items. The shop is located in the old horse stable and offers everything from gift items to local delicacies.

An Experience in Scenic Surroundings

Thornæs Distillery is located in beautiful surroundings near Gribskov and Solbjerg Engsø, part of the Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park. Here, visitors can enjoy the view of the nature-rich landscape and often spot birds of prey and other wildlife. The animals are drawn to the lake, and the farm’s owner helps by laying out carrots during the winter to ensure enough food for the local population. The distillery also contributes by spreading the leftover mash, a by-product from the mashing of the whisky malt, in the forest edges, giving the animals a real feast.

The Falkendal Farm and its History

As the name suggests, Falkendal Farm is located in an area that has historically been home to many falcons, and they can still be seen today, along with owls and eagles. For decades, the farm has cultivated hay, straw, and grain, and it used to house horses and cows, though that was some years ago. The main house features an inscription “1943” above the doorway, indicating a major renovation, though the farm’s history goes back further to the latter half of the 19th century.

The distillery began production in 2019 and is run daily by founder Torben Thornæs Andersen. Torben originally earned a university degree in Danish language and literature, but after a career in communications, he decided in 2018 to follow his dream of producing Danish organic whisky.

This has resulted in a charming whisky distillery, which today produces not only Single Malt Whisky but also a range of other spirits such as gin and aquavit.

Visit Thornæs Distillery – Practical Information

• Opening hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-17:00 and Saturday 11:00-14:00.
• The shop is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Any changes to opening hours are announced on the distillery's website.
• Parking: There is parking near the entrance with space for approximately 10 cars.
• Directions: Take the local train to Kagerup Station or Duemose Station from Hillerød Station. Bus route 363 runs from Duemose Station and Kagerup Station to Kagerup, Gribskovvej, which is a 2-minute walk from the distillery. It’s a 25-minute walk from both stations.
• Tours: Times can be booked directly on the distillery’s website.
• Private events: Contact the distillery directly.
• The distillery has a disabled toilet.