Macardo - Schweizer Edeldestillerie

What Macardo - Schweizer Edeldestillerie does

Macardo Swiss Distillery GmbH is a private Swiss premium distillery headquartered in Strohwilen, Amlikon-Bissegg, Thurgau, founded in 2007 by Andy Bössow and led operationally with Master Distiller Bartholomäus Fink. The company operates from a renovated 1904 heritage cheese factory building extended with modern new construction, producing small-batch spirits in two bespoke wood-fired copper pot stills (100L and 200L) using water from its own spring. Its product portfolio centres on Swiss Premium Whisky — internationally positioned as "THE SWISS ONE" — alongside multiple gin expressions (Summer Gin, Sir Dry Gin, Thurgoni), Señor Rum, brandy, liqueurs, Vieilles fruit brandies, grappa, local specialties, and wines, sold through an integrated mix of DTC e-commerce (macardo.ch), an on-site walk-in shop, and Vertriebspartner wholesale channels.

A central technical differentiator is the Fasslager 4.0 barrel warehouse, co-developed with Technische Hochschule Winterthur (now part of ZHAW), in which each barrel rests on a force-measuring steel cradle transmitting daily fill level, temperature, and humidity via Bluetooth — a system Macardo describes as the world's most innovative barrel storage. Production is scheduled in alignment with solar generation peaks to reduce grid dependency. The company has accumulated awards from IWSC, CWSA, Falstaff, SWGRA, SSA, Destisuisse, and Edelbrandpraemierung between 2016 and 2020.

Commercially, Macardo combines spirits sales with an integrated hospitality and experience layer: a 174 m² event location for up to 100 persons, three seminar rooms, a Premium B&B with 10 rooms and 2 apartments, the Honesty Bar & Cigar Lounge with 200+ cigars, a seasonal Fondue Chalet (November–December), distillery tours, grill courses co-hosted with Smokey Eyes, brunches, and contract distillation (Lohnbrand) plus corporate gifting services. Pricing is unit-based across all lines — spirits CHF 43–80 per bottle, B&B CHF 182–205 per night, tours CHF 26–45 per person, grill courses CHF 250 per person, and catering packages CHF 19–25 per person.

Name

Macardo - Schweizer Edeldestillerie

Legal name

Macardo Swiss Distillery GmbH

Website

https://macardo.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Macardo Swiss Distillery is a private Thurgau-based producer of small-batch Swiss premium whisky, gin, rum, brandy, and liqueurs, operating an integrated destination that combines its wood-fired distillery and Fasslager 4.0 barrel warehouse with a Premium B&B, event location, Honesty Bar & Cigar Lounge, and contract distillation services for individual consumers and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Craft Spirits (Distilled Beverages)

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRADAIAC

Spirits Distilling & Brands

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Alcoholic Beverages (Beer, Wine, Spirits) Manufacturing & Brands

SECONDARYTHAJAGAF

Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Food & Drink Experiences (Culinary Tours, Tastings, Cooking Classes)

SECONDARYTHAFALAG

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries (Taprooms/Tasting Rooms)

SECONDARYCRANABAA

Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail)

Consumer Products & Retail/Tobacco, Alcohol & Cannabis Retail/Beer, Wine & Spirits Specialty Retail

SECONDARYCRANACAK

Cigar Bars & Lounges

Consumer Products & Retail/Tobacco, Alcohol & Cannabis Retail/On-Premise Alcohol Retail (Bars, Pubs & Taprooms)

SECONDARYTHAFALAJ

Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries (Taprooms/Tasting Rooms)

Keywords

• Craft spirits distillery
• Premium Swiss whisky
• Small batch gin
• Fruit brandy production
• Distillery hospitality experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Strohwilen, Amlikon-Bissegg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Spirits product sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales and walk-in shop sales of proprietary spirits: Swiss premium whisky, Thurgau gin, rum, vodka, brandies, fruit distillates (Vieilles), grappa, liqueurs, and accessories (nosing glasses, cocktail sets, gin stones). Also sold through distribution partners and Vertriebspartner (sales partners).
2. Event and hospitality services: Revenue from event location rentals (174 m², up to 100 persons), seminars, workshops, grill courses, weddings, corporate events, and the Honesty Bar & Cigar Lounge. Also includes distillate tastings, distillery tours, and the Fondue Chalet (November–December).
3. Premium B&B accommodation: 12 rooms (referred to as 10 rooms on some pages) and 2 apartments/suites in the Premium B&B, plus event packages combining accommodation with dinners, tastings, and tours. One accommodation package listed at CHF 490 for 2 persons.
4. Lohnbrand (contract distillation) and corporate gifts: Bespoke contract distillation services (Lohnbrand) and custom corporate gift solutions allow external brands or businesses to produce spirits under or alongside the Macardo brand. Contributes to both service revenue and long-term brand partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Macardo Swiss Distillery GmbH produces and sells small-batch premium Swiss spirits — including Swiss Premium Whisky, Thurgauer Gin expressions, Schweizer Rum, Brandy, liqueurs, fruit brandies (Vieilles), and Grappa — distilled in wood-fired copper pot stills and matured in the proprietary Fasslager 4.0 IoT-monitored barrel warehouse. The distillery complements its spirits business with an integrated hospitality offering: a Premium B&B (10 rooms, 2 apartments), a 174 m² eventlocation for up to 100 persons, the Honesty Bar & Cigar Lounge, seminar rooms, distillery tours, tastings, grill courses, brunches, a seasonal Fondue Chalet, contract distillation (Lohnbrand), and corporate gift services.

Product overview

Macardo is a Swiss premium distillery producing a portfolio of spirits centered on whisky, gin, rum, and fruit brandies, complemented by a hospitality business encompassing event venues, accommodation, dining, and experiential tourism. Core spirits products include Swiss Premium Whisky (marketed as 'THE SWISS ONE'), multiple gin expressions (Summer Gin, Sir Dry Gin, Thurgoni), Schweizer Rum (Señor Rum), brandy, liqueurs, fruit brandies (Vieilles), grappa (Trester), local specialties, and wines. The experience layer includes distillery tours with tastings, grilling courses, gourmet brunch, and event spaces for up to 100 guests. Accommodation offerings span 10 rooms and 2 apartments in the Premium B&B. The Honesty Bar & Cigar Lounge provides self-service spirits and cocktails with over 200 cigars. Additional services include contract distillation (Lohnbrand), corporate gifts, seminar facilities with three rooms, and fondue chalet seasonal dining. The distillery operates in a renovated 1904 cheese factory using traditional wood-fired copper pot stills (100L and 200L) with a patented barrel storage system (Fasslager 4.0) featuring automated monitoring technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Swiss Premium Whisky Small-batch Swiss premium whisky aged in oak barrels, internationally recognized as 'THE SWISS ONE'. Available in multiple expressions including Single Malt and Swiss Thurbon.
• Summer Gin Thurgauer gin with passion fruit notes and tropical character, 38% ABV in 70cl format. Priced at CHF 56.50 per bottle.
• Sir Dry Gin Multi-award-winning gin distilled with 10 regional organic botanicals over wood fire using a secret 18th-century recipe. 42% ABV, 70cl, CHF 54.50 per bottle.
• Thurgoni Thurgau gin spirit at 29% ABV in 35cl format, CHF 43.00 per bottle.
• Schweizer Rum (Señor Rum) Swiss rum made from sugarcane molasses sourced from sustainable plantations in India and Nicaragua, branded as Señor Rum.
• Brandy Traditional brandy spirit at 42% ABV in 70cl format, priced at CHF 79.50 per bottle.
• Liqueur Fruit-based liqueurs produced by Macardo, including mandarin and other fruit varieties.
• Vieilles – Fruchtdestillate (Fruit Brandies) Fruit brandies including Vieille Prune (plum brandy), hand-sorted fruits, crafted following traditional methods.
• Trester (Grappa) Grape marc brandies (Grappa) produced from pomace.
• Lokale Spezialitäten (Local Specialties) Local Thurgau specialty products including mustards and whisky fondue kits.
• Weine (Wines) Wines including red wine (Rotwein '04' Cuvée), white wine (Weisswein '19' Cuvée), and Crémant sparkling wine.
• Degustations-Boxen (Tasting Boxes) Curated tasting boxes featuring selections of Macardo spirits (e.g., Swiss Thurbon, Sloe Gin, Eille Poire Williams) for discovery and gifting purposes.
• Degustations-Flaschen (Tasting Bottles 10cl) 10cl tasting miniatures of Macardo spirits including Summer Gin (CHF 19.50), Sir Dry Gin (CHF 18.50), Señor Rum (CHF 20.50), Glüh Gin (CHF 15.50), and Sloe Gin (CHF 19.50).
• Zubehör (Accessories) Accessories including bartender sets, nosing glasses, cocktail glasses, ice cube trays, gin stones (CHF 13.50 per 6-piece granite set), whiskey stones, glass markers, and knives.
• Premium B&B Premium Bed & Breakfast accommodation with 10 rooms and 2 apartments (one wheelchair-accessible) featuring views of Alpstein and Säntis mountains. Single room from CHF 182.50/night; double room CHF 205/night, inclusive of breakfast and Thurgau tourism tax.
• Eventlocation 174 m² event space accommodating up to 100 persons, suitable for corporate events, weddings, seminars, and workshops, with full catering kitchen and terrace.
• Honesty Bar & Cigar Lounge Self-service bar featuring over 200 cigars from the original Nüesch humidor, a bartender robot for cocktails, and a selection of Macardo spirits, open to overnight guests and visitors.
• Macardo Genuss Brunch Gourmet brunch experience at Macardo with regional delicacies and Macardo spirits (e.g., Macardo Brunch 1. August 2026 listed at CHF 49.00 per person).
• Grill Kurse (Grill Courses) Professional grilling courses led by Smokey Eyes BBQ experts using Grill Fürst equipment, featuring multi-course menus cooked on ceramic, pellet, and plancha grills. CHF 250 per person, including welcome drink, multi-course BBQ menu, recipe handouts, and hands-on participation.
• Destillerie Führungen (Distillery Tours) Guided distillery tours lasting approximately 1.5 hours including tasting of 3 Macardo distillates. CHF 45 per person (aged 14+), maximum group size approximately 20 persons. Longer 45-minute and 90-minute tour formats also available (CHF 26 and CHF 38 per person respectively).
• Macardo-Genuss Paket (Experience Package) Experience package for 2 persons at CHF 490 including distillery tour, tasting, 3-course dinner, overnight B&B stay, breakfast, and gift box with three 100ml spirit bottles.
• Fondue Chalet Seasonal fondue chalet hosting up to 80 guests from November to December, featuring various fondue varieties including whisky and truffle fondue.
• Seminarräume (Seminar Rooms) Three seminar rooms: Fimmelsberg (up to 14 persons, 28 m², from CHF 180/half day), Säntis Panorama klein (up to 20 persons, 78 m², from CHF 310/half day), and Säntis Panorama gross (up to 100 persons, 151 m², price on request). All equipped with Beamer, Flipchart, WLAN, and AV equipment.
• Lohnbrand (Contract Distillation) Bespoke contract distillation service allowing clients to have their own spirits produced using Macardo's wood-fired copper pot stills and Fasslager 4.0 maturation technology.
• Firmengeschenke (Corporate Gifts) Corporate gift solutions featuring Macardo spirits and custom gift arrangements for businesses and organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 100 persons accommodated in the event space; 12 rooms and 2 suites in Premium B&B
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Smokey Eyes (Stevan & Ralf)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmokey Eyes BBQ & Cigars (run by Stevan and Ralf) co-hosts Macardo's grill courses. Smokey Eyes provides the professional grill instruction, recipes, and hands-on course leadership, while Macardo provides the event venue, ingredients, drinks, and hospitality infrastructure. The courses take place at Macardo's eventlocation and are offered as Macardo-branded events. Courses are priced at CHF 250/person and include a multi-course menu prepared at various grill stations.
• Grill FürstminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrill Fürst is the named grill equipment partner for Macardo's grill courses, providing high-quality BBQ hardware (grills, accessories) used during the courses. Mentioned alongside Smokey Eyes as the equipment supplier for Macardo's grill course events.
• Technische Hochschule Winterthur (TH) (now part of ZHAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMacardo developed its world-first 'Fasslager 4.0' barrel warehouse in collaboration with the Technische Hochschule Winterthur. The university contributed the technical expertise for the Bluetooth-enabled force-measuring sensor system that monitors each barrel's fill level, temperature, and humidity in real time. This partnership produced a unique, patented-grade innovation that is a central differentiator for Macardo's maturation process.
• Hotel SpiderminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel Spider provides the online booking system for Macardo's Premium B&B room reservations. Guest booking data is shared with Hotel Spider for processing and reservation management.
• PayPalminorOthersPayPal (PayPal Express) is used as a payment processor on macardo.ch for e-commerce transactions. Customer payment data is forwarded to PayPal for transaction processing.
• PostFinance AGminorOthersPostFinance is used as a payment processor on macardo.ch for e-commerce transactions. Payment data is forwarded to PostFinance for transaction handling.
• Webwirkung GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebwirkung GmbH (Glärnischstrasse 13, 9500 Wil SG) is credited for the concept, design, and programming of macardo.ch, the official company website.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edradour Distillery: Edradour is a small-batch Highland Scotch distillery offering distillery tours, a tasting room, and a craft single-malt portfolio — comparable to Macardo as a small premium craft distillery that monetises on-site experience alongside bottle sales.
• Bruichladdich Distillery: Bruichladdich is an Islay, Scotland-based craft distillery with on-site tours, a strong premium single-malt portfolio, and progressive provenance storytelling — directly comparable to Macardo as a craft premium-whisky producer that combines distillation with destination hospitality.
• Säntis Malt (Brauerei Locher): Säntis Malt is a Swiss single-malt whisky producer from Appenzell with its own brewery/distillery footprint, on-site tasting experiences, and an established international award record — a closely comparable Swiss craft whisky direct competitor with similar tourism-driven go-to-market.
• Albert Reichmuth AG: Albert Reichmuth is a Zurich-based Swiss premium spirits retailer and producer representative with deep ties to Swiss craft distilleries, providing a comparable premium spirits go-to-market and benchmarking channel for Macardo's portfolio in Switzerland.
• The Glenmorangie Company: Glenmorangie is a premium Scotch whisky producer with flagship distillery tours, tasting experiences, and a heritage-led brand narrative — closely comparable to Macardo on premium single-malt positioning and integrated distillery-tourism experience.
• Langatun Distillery: Langatun is a Swiss craft distillery in the canton of Bern producing whisky, gin, and other small-batch spirits, with on-site tastings and a similar DTC e-commerce model — directly comparable in scale, craft positioning, and Swiss heritage narrative.

Broad incumbents

• Diageo plc: Diageo is the world's largest premium spirits group with extensive whisky and gin portfolios — a broad incumbent that competes with Macardo on shelf space, distributor relationships, and premium whisky consumer mindshare, but at vastly greater scale.
• Rémy Cointreau: Rémy Cointreau is a global premium spirits group focused on cognac, whisky, and liqueurs — a broad incumbent comparable on premium-spirits positioning and relevant for benchmarking export-channel dynamics Macardo would face internationally.
• Pernod Ricard: Pernod Ricard is a global premium spirits major with deep whisky, gin, and rum portfolios — a broad incumbent competitor shaping the same premium spirits retail and on-premise channels Macardo targets with 'THE SWISS ONE' positioning.

Regional players

• Mosterei Möhl: Mosterei Möhl is a long-established Thurgau-based fruit beverage producer (cider, apple wine, fruit brandies) with its own on-site restaurant and shop — a regional Thurgau peer with comparable destination-brand hospitality and overlapping fruit-distillate product set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsxXTEYy3yU3mpisbsHI82w/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/macardodestillerie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macardo-genuss-welt
• Instagraminstagram.com/macardo_genuss_welt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Macardo - Schweizer Edeldestillerie