Visiting Feddie Ocean Distillery
Introduction
This looks interesting! (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Earlier this year my whisky travels took me to a small island called Fedje, outside of Bergen on the west coast of Norway. On this little island there is a distillery, called Feddie Ocean Distillery. The good people of Feddie Ocean Distillery have invited me to come visit them several times over the past 2-3 years, but life kept getting in the way. Then finally, there was an opening in my calendar, and I actually got to go there!
Click on any of the many pictures in this article to display in full size.
So, first off, what’s the deal with the name, other than that the islands name “Fedje” is near impossible to pronounce correctly unless you are a local. Well, this is what they say on their homepage:
“Fedje is the village in the ocean, and the island's name was Feddie back in 1666. Feddie Ocean Distillery reflects the island's history and identity. We draw inspiration from the ocean, the wild weather and unique natural and cultural landscape.”
One (of several) thing that sets Feddie Ocean Distillery apart is the fact that they are 100 % owned by female investors. So why is this? Again, to quote their website:
“Because it’s exceptional. Because the world of spirits is dominated and run by men. The whisky industry mainly educate men and whisky drinkers are most often men. So far.
Because 80 % of the Norwegian stock exchange is still owned by men. [..]
Because Feddie’s founder is a woman, and from the very start of her career she has succeeded in doing business with other women.“
Even if they are owned exclusively by female investors, there is a mix of both men and women actually working at the distillery.
The wonderful team that took great care of me during my stay on the island, was Martin Tønder Smith - Head of sales and product developer, Alejandro Aispuro - Master Blender, and Thea Borling - Market Coordinator. I have known Martin for a number of years, and he has worked with import and sales of spirits and beer, and as Product Manager at Vinmonopolet. Alejandro I have also previously met when he was working as Head distiller at Aurora Spirit (Bivrost). Thea also used to work at Vinmonopolet, and I have have met her there at many press tastings. Lovely people, all of them!
Getting there
It is a bit of an adventure, especially if you are late for the ferry (yeah, OK, we missed it and had to wait!) (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Your starting point for a visit to Feddie Ocean Distillery will typically be Bergen. You will then have to drive for about 75 minutes North along the coast, until you reach Sævrøy ferjekai, where you take the ferry across to the island of Fedje. The ferry takes about 30 minutes to cross over to the island, and there are departures all day - about an hour and 20 minutes between each departure.
As you step off the ferry you are literally right outside the distillery.
Not quite the Titanic, but it floats! (Photo: Whisky Saga)
The distillery is located right on the waterfront. (Photo: Whisky Saga)
The distillery
The distillery itself is housed within an old fish processing plant. The large structure also houses a small visitor center / distillery shop.
Thge entrance to the distillery is on the right. There is also a sign for “Matkroken” the local supermarket located just behind the distillery. (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Just across the road from the distillery was the laboratory / office of the master blender. We started off spending a few hours playing around in the lab, trying various samples and generally having a good time.
Nerdy details from inside the lab looking across the road towards the distillery. (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Martin in the lab - where he seemed to be at peace (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Alejandro was certainly in his right element. (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Following this exhausting lab work, it was time to enter the distillery proper.
Just about to enter the inner sanctuary! (Photo: Whisky Saga)
The still at Feddie is of the brand A.B.T., designed in the USA. The capacity of the still is is 4.000 liters, and the charge is 3.300 liters.
This is where (a lot of) the magic happens (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Lots of merch lined up in the shop (Photo: Whisky Saga)
More of the visitor center / shop (Photo: Whisky Saga)
We also had a quick look at the bottling hall. (Photo: Whisky Saga)
The warehouse
The warehouse is located a couple of minutes' drive from the distillery itself. It is again a massive structure, giving the distillery ample room to expand. Here I got to taste whisky and “almost whisky” straight from a dozen or more casks. The cask samples ranged from “interesting” and “let’s see how this develops” to “this is bloody marvelous! Bottle, bottle, bottle!”.
First cask was filled in July 2019, which means they do have actual whisky in the warehouse. A number of different cask types are in use, but no small casks like blood tubs etc. The smallest casks in the warehouse are ex-peated whisky quarter casks. All in all more than 1.200 casks are now resting in the warehouses.
Whisky in the making (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Martin with his eyes firmly fixed on the bright future of Feddie Ocean Distillery (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Playing around with my new Google Pixel 8 Pro (Photo: Whisky Saga)
More fun with my Google Pixel 8 Pro (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Lots of good whisky being matured on the island of Fedje. (Photo: Whisky Saga)
The island of Fedje
There was luckily time enough for us to do a little sightseeing as well before we had to get back to the mainland. Even if it was freezing cold, it was well worth it to go out and see more of the wild coast line.
It was freezing cold, but the views were spectacular. The light kept changing all the time. (Photo: Whisky Saga)
More icy cold and wild coast line. (Photo: Whisky Saga)
Conclusion
All in all I must say it was a great trip. I can heartily recommend visiting Feddie Ocean Distillery, and not just because of the distillery itself and the lovely people working there, but also to see the island itself.
If all goes to plan I believe we can expect to see the first single malt whisky released by Feddie Ocean Distillery before the end of the year. In the meantime check out the other products from the distillery; Feddie Aquavit, Feddie Cask Matured Aquavit, Nine Sisters Gin and Feddie Deluxe Coffee Liqueur.
Sláinte!
- Thomas
