Pure smoothness
“The whisky is multifaceted and silky. It carries no harsh alcohol bite, just smoothness,” says Jiří Syrovátka, master distiller at Zámecké sady, describing the new release. “The first impression is classic—the unmistakable taste of whisky. Then distinct notes of nuts, vanilla, and honey open up. Over time, fruity aromas of pears, subtle lemon, and peach emerge, followed by a dark yet very delicate touch of wood,” adds the distiller.
Two editions
The whisky is being released in two editions. The Original edition, bottled at 57.3% ABV, comes in a run of 901 half-litre bottles. As a special treat, the brewery introduced a cask strength edition at 63.4% ABV. The brewery produced only 100 bottles of this edition, marked with the original cask number and featuring hand-numbered labels. “Taste is our primary concern, but in this case, it is also a valuable collector's item. We had announced that we were preparing our own whisky, and we believe many people have been looking forward to it. It's finally here,” says Tomáš Lipták, the brewery's marketing director.
From their own malt, aged in American oak casks
Bernard Whisky was crafted from so-called malt wine (distiller's beer). It is brewed much like beer, but the process is halted right before hops would be added. The main ingredient is barley malt from Bernard's own floor malting plant in Rajhrad near Brno. The recipe for the wash was developed by the brewery's former brewmaster, Josef Vávra. The new spirit has matured in American white oak casks in the Chrámce distillery's cellar since 2023.
Bernard Whisky is available at the brewery's branded stores and on its online shop.
About Bernard Family Brewery
The story of Bernard Family Brewery began on 26 October 1991, when three entrepreneurs—Stanislav Bernard, Josef Vávra, and Rudolf Šmejkal—acquired a dilapidated, bankrupt brewery in Humpolec at auction. From a business that employed just 24 people after privatization, they built one of the most respected beer brands in the Czech Republic. Today, the brewery employs 260 people, exports to two dozen countries, and its beers have earned hundreds of awards, including some of the world's most prestigious.
The brewery secures its core raw materials itself. It produces malt using traditional floor malting methods at its own maltings in Rajhrad near Brno, which it has owned since 2000. It cultivates its own yeast in Humpolec and draws water from its own deep artesian wells. Its lagers are unpasteurized, treated instead with microfiltration. The brewery does not pursue volume growth; its constant objective is the highest beer quality and strong relationships.
In 2022, the brewery opened the Bernard Visitor Centre directly on its grounds, complete with a stylish pub, event spaces, a brewery exhibition, and a cinema. It organizes its own music festival, Bernard Fest, established the Bernard Help Foundation, hosts the Bernardchef competition for culinary talents, publishes the magazine Vlastní cestou (Our Own Way) for customers and fans, and honors exemplary deeds with the Bernard Award. Bernard Family Brewery is known as a beloved love brand, and its owners strive to cultivate it into a cult classic.