Craft distillery Skånska Spritfabriken never compromises on flavour. With a passion for honest ingredients, true craftsmanship and modern innovation, the close-knit team makes award-winning spirits in southern Sweden. At a time when provenance, sustainability and authenticity matter more than ever, Skånska Spritfabriken stands out by treating spirits like agriculture – not industry.

On a farm in Södra Sandby outside Lund, craft distillery Skånska Spritfabriken is run with heaps of passion and care, and its award-winning line-up is the result of Skåne’s rich terroir, the team’s dedication to quality and flavour, and a generous pinch of curiosity.

“With Skåne as our pantry, we ferment, distil and store spirits in our distillery,” says Jan Rothman, co-founder and master blender – a former Champagne professional turned Nordic spirits craftsman. “Our craftsmanship is more than just a process – it’s our way of celebrating local ingredients and the richness of Skåne’s nature. Every bottle is a manifestation of our values.”

Skånska Spritfabriken : A journey in flavour, from farm to glass

Flavour sovereignty and ingredient-driven spirits

Having previously worked with Moët & Chandon in California’s Napa Valley wine district, entrepreneurs Jan Rothman and Kim Paulin were pondering the best way to take care of windfall apples in Skåne, apples with world-class flavour. “The shift from Champagne houses to a farm in Skåne was a conscious move towards ingredient-driven spirits,” explains Rothman. “Our discussions about windfall apples gave birth to the idea of making spirits, namely Pommeau and Swedish calvados, and apples are still part of our DNA.”

Skånska Spritfabriken was formed in 2011 and in 2012, its first product was officially launched, an apple brandy that was distilled in France from Swedish ingredients. Production eventually moved to Södra Sandby, where it is still based.

In 2016, the team introduced London Dry Gin – a balanced gin with plenty of character that is still the company’s best-seller. Just a year later, in 2017, Rothman received a call from International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). He recalls: “Our London Dry Gin had been named the world’s best gin for Gin & Tonic!”

Award-winning approach

Soon, Europe, the US and Asia were knocking on the distillery’s door. “Our aim was to create a perfect gin that we wanted to drink ourselves. Our products have been recognised internationally for consistency – spirits that perform equally well neat, in cocktails, and with tonic,” says Kim Paulin, co-founder and marketing manager.

Over the years, the producer has received plenty of other awards, such as Grand Gold for its Blue Dry Gin at Paris Wine & Spirits Trophy. Skånska Spritfabriken has also been awarded Best of & Gold in the categories Dry Gin and Original Tonic at the latest Sweden Gin & Tonic Awards.

In 2024, Skånska Spritfabriken was named Beverage Producer of the Year, with the following motivation; “with constant innovation and exciting new thinking, the winner continues to create their beverages using our most local ingredients.”

“Awards and prizes are a seal of quality that what we do is good,” reflects Paulin. “Of course, we’re proud, and it makes us want to use what grows in the soil around us even more. And use what others proudly grow in our vicinity.”

Skånska Spritfabriken : A journey in flavour, from farm to glass

Products based on terroir

Calling themselves spirit farmers, the team works with fermentation, distillation and maturation in the same way as winemakers – guided by soil, season and patience. And Skånska Spritfabriken will continue to develop new products based on local terroir.

“Skåne is known for its agriculture and great conditions, for instance barley malt for making whisky,” explains Rothman. “If you have great ingredients, you can make tasty products. We want to make the best of what we have in southern Sweden and support our local farmers.”

Together with Sweden Rock, one of Scandinavia’s largest rock and metal festivals that attracts around 40,000 fans annually from around the world, Skånska Spritfabriken has released a flavour explosion based on Swedish sugar beet. Positioned between a liqueur and a shot, the natural taste of Feel the Beet is carefully refined with caramelised sugar and subtle flavour of buttery toffee and smooth vanilla. “Feel the Beet challenges the idea that premium spirits must be rooted in colonial raw materials,” adds Rothman. “Instead, it reframes sugar beet – a cornerstone of Scandinavian agriculture – as a flavour carrier with its own identity.”

New products and limited editions are in the pipeline, with a clear connection to the season and location. Responding to the growing demand for sophisticated alcohol-free options, the distillery is also launching Gin & Tonic Strawberry Rose in March, designed with the same botanical precision as its spirits.

Kim Paulin, co-founder and marketing manager. | Skånska Spritfabriken : A journey in flavour, from farm to glass

Kim Paulin, co-founder and marketing manager.

Web: spritfabriken.com
Facebook: Skånska Spritfabriken
Instagram: @skanskaspritfabriken

Experience the art of distilling

Visitors are invited behind the scenes to experience distillation as a living craft – tasting directly from stills and oak barrels and gaining insight into decisions normally kept within the distillery walls.

Read the feature on issuu