Faer Isles Distillery Crowdfunding Campaign

The most remote distillery location in the world is the Faroe Islands in the middle of the North Atlantic, where Faer Isles Distillery started full-scale whisky production in 2023.

Partly crowdfunded, Faer Isles Distillery has 1000+ shareholders in 31 countries. The crowdfunding has been run in three rounds. The first two campaigns in 2021 and 2023 were very successful, and the 3rd and final round of Faer Isles Distillery is initiated and will run only the next few weeks, ending 30 April.

The distillery has attracted a lot of attention from the whisky world due to the unique approach to maturing whisky. Whisky casks are maturing in warehouses built in the traditional, authentic “rimahjallur” style in beautiful settings, overlooking the local fjords. This approach ensures maximum exposure to the elements and is a method used for centuries in the Faroese culinary tradition.

The climate in the wild beauty of the North Atlantic is characterized by stable year-round cool temperatures, averaging between 5-9 degrees C, high humidity, and a very salty ocean wind.

This special climate on the islands has been deemed ideal for whisky maturation – a boosted version of Scotland, so to speak. Magazines like Food & Wine, Tasting Table, Whisky Magazine and The Whisky Wash have pointed out the uniqueness of the climate and the maturation method, and famous whisky expert and critic, Dave Broom, has tried the maturing malt and given it a great review. Given that maturation is commonly agreed to contribute 60-80% of the flavour of whisky, it can seem odd that so many whiskies are matured in the exact same way in huge joint warehouses on the Scottish mainland.

This style of whisky maturation is totally unique and is creating a whisky different from the traditional Scottish whiskies, although relying on Scottish equipment and expertise. Reflecting the local abundance of peat, it is a lightly peated whisky with a strong oceanic flavour mixed with grassy and fruity notes. The main consultant on flavour development and quality is Prof. in Distilling at Herriot Watt University, Gordon Steele, who has designed many famous whiskies, most recently Isles of Harris.

The distillery founders, all local Faroese, are excited about the inaugural release of a bottled whisky next year.

In the meantime, as has been seen with several other whisky start-ups, the distillery is offering the opportunity to the wider public to purchase some of their first casks. They offer a wide selection of whisky cask, including rare curiosities like Banyuls and Carcavelos and also smaller 50L casks (quarter casks). In 2023, 100 casks were offered exclusively to members of the distillery’s Founders’ Club, shareholders and followers and were quickly sold out.