Distilled Spirits - Whiskey - Spain
Spanish whiskey has experienced remarkable growth in recent years and has established itself as a respected category in the international whiskey industry.
While traditionally Scotland and Ireland have been the countries most associated with whiskey production, Spain has emerged as a prominent producer. Spain is home to several distilleries that produce high-quality whiskey using traditional methods. Some of the most recognized brands include DYC (Destilerías y Crianza del Whisky), located in Segovia and operational since the 1950s, and Nomad Outland Whisky, a collaboration between a Spanish and Scottish distillery.
Furthermore, the number of distilleries in Spain has grown, especially small craft distilleries like Liber Distilleries in Granada, Basque Moonshiners, SackMan, and Siderit. The climate and geographical conditions of Spain, especially in regions like Galicia and Asturias, have influenced the development of Spanish whiskey. These areas have a more humid climate similar to Scotland, which has led to the establishment of distilleries seeking to take advantage of these conditions to produce whiskies with unique flavor profiles.
Spanish whiskey has gained recognition in international competitions and has received praise for its quality and distinctive character. Many Spanish distilleries have invested in Spanish oak barrels, previously used to age sherry or other Spanish spirits, which impart specific characteristics to Spanish whiskey.
However, despite having a considerable export volume to South America, Spanish-distilled whiskey is not widely known internationally compared to other beverages such as wine or cava. In Spain, domestically distilled whiskey has good sales volume due to its lower price compared to imported whiskies, but it does not enjoy the same popularity or general reputation for high quality. Nevertheless, they are widely accepted for cocktails and mixed drinks. Recently, there has been an increase in the production of higher-quality single malt whiskies.
Historically, there was only one distillery located in Palazuelos de Eresma, Segovia, owned by the company Destilería y Crianza del Whisky, S.A., which produced DYC whiskey. This distillery had a production capacity of up to 20 million liters annually and eventually incorporated an anise distillation plant and engaged in the bottling of imported bourbon after its acquisition by the Beam Suntory group in 2004. Prior to this distillery, in the early 20th century, Bodegas José del Soto produced the first documented whiskey produced in Spain but ceased production after the civil war.