Rugen Distillery Auction - Cooperation with FreeTheBees

The traditional Swiss Distillers' Day is celebrated each November: Renowned distilleries open their doors on the day and bring the distilling craft closer to the public. "The Rugen Distillery was one of the first whisky distilleries in Switzerland. It is always a special day for us when we can offer a look behind the scenes," describes Remo Kobluk, Managing Director of Rugenbräu AG. On Saturday, November 12, 2022, around 250 people visited the distillery at Rugen.

Auction of rarities and connoisseur whiskies

"Over the years, a number of Swiss Mountain Single Malt Whiskies have accumulated in our rock cellar. These are rarities or special vintages that are no longer available for regular sale," describes Remo Kobluk. Due to the demand, the Rugen Distillery team decided to hold an auction on Distillery Day. 44 bottles went under the hammer and found a new owner among whisky lovers.

Part of the proceeds in favor of bees

"We were keen to donate part of the proceeds to a special project," explains Remo Kobluk. The choice fell on the honey bee organization FreeTheBees, which is committed to wild honey bees. For one summer in 2018, two bee colonies inhabited a new oak barrel at Rugen Distillery. In doing so, they left aromas from their honey production in the wood. In the fall of 2018, the barrel was filled with Swiss Mountain Single Malt Whisky and since then this whisky has been maturing in the Rugen Felsenkeller. "The story of the bee whisky will soon enter a next chapter as we plan the bottling. According to our Master Distiller, this will be a very exciting whisky," Kobluk notes. "We're about to enter into a longer-term collaboration with FreeTheBees, in that three naturally kept bee colonies will be living in oak barrels on the brewery's roof in the summer of 2023. The aim is to produce some of our own honey as well as further bee whiskey," Kobluk holds out the prospect.

FreeTheBees

FreeTheBees is hugely excited about the new partnership and the donation that has already been made. "The first tasting of the unique and innovative bee whisky is a special honor for me," said FreeTheBees founder and current managing director André Wermelinger. As a friend of good drops, he could only confirm the Master Distiller's statement.

FreeTheBees is the only bee organization in Switzerland that actively works to protect and promote free-living honey bee colonies. This is especially important because under beekeeping conditions, honeybees cannot continue to adapt to their environment or even to future environmental changes. Beekeepers and beekeepers are trained in species-appropriate, responsible beekeeping and sustainable honey production. Because most consumers are not aware of the intensity of conventional honey beekeeping, FreeTheBees also raises awareness among the general public interested in nature.