{"id":43187,"date":"2026-10-02T14:53:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T12:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dresden-magazin.com\/uncategorized\/whisky-manufaktur-dresden\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:31:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:31:31","slug":"dresden-whisky-manufactory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dresden-magazin.com\/en\/indulgence\/dresden-whisky-manufactory\/","title":{"rendered":"Dresden Whisky Manufactory: Scottish traditions meet Saxon precision"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A shared passion for whisky has always been part of their long-standing friendship. In their local pub, where Thomas Michalski and Frank Leichsenring spent countless evenings playing Skat, the classic German card game, their enthusiasm grew and eventually crystallised into a clear decision: to strike out on their own. First as independent bottlers, and later as producers distilling their own whiskies in the heart of Dresden. <\/p>\n\n

Whisky from Dresden: The making of Hellinger 42<\/h2>\n\n

Their journey began in Scotland, the home of whisky<\/a>. In Speyside, the famed whisky region in the Scottish Highlands, Michalski and Leichsenring immersed themselves in the fundamentals of distillation shaped by Scottish traditions. In 2019, they founded the Dresden Whisky Manufactory and created the Hellinger 42 brand. To begin with, they sourced whisky already matured in Speyside and refined it in selected casks.<\/p>\n\n

\"Thomas
Thomas Michalski (pictured) co-founded the Dresden Whisky Manufactory and the Hellinger 42 brand with his long-time friend Frank Leichsenring. In 2022, they distilled their first whisky of their own production, released in October 2025. Photo: Dresden Whisky Manufactory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

In 2022, they took a bold next step: their own manufactory opened in the historic Alberthafen. The single malt distilled there reached the market in October 2025 as \u201cHellinger 42 Edition One\u201d, priced at 79 euros per bottle. \u201cBy definition, whisky must mature for at least three years in oak casks, otherwise it cannot be called whisky,\u201d explains Michalski. Inspired by Speyside, their whisky is \u201cvery soft, fruity and floral\u201d.<\/p>\n\n

Winemaker Edition: A Dresden whisky finished in wine casks<\/h2>\n\n

The flavour profile of Hellinger 42<\/a> ranges from the soft, fruity character shaped by bourbon casks to the rich depth of sherry and port casks, and even to the subtly smoky, spicy notes of peated styles. The portfolio also includes special editions; among them a whisky finished in Pinot Noir barrels from the Holger Koch winery.<\/p>\n\n

\"The
Frank Leichsenring is co-founder of the Dresden Whisky Manufactory and the Hellinger 42 brand. \u201cHellinger\u201d is the surname of his maternal grandfather; the number 42 is a nod to \u201cthe answer to life, the universe and everything\u201d from The Hitchhiker\u2019s Guide to the Galaxy. Photo: Nils Br\u00f6er<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The Dresden Whisky Manufactory plans to continue working closely with German winemakers<\/a>. Their whiskies spend between six months and two years in the winemakers\u2019 barrels, absorbing their distinctive aromas. \u201cSeventy per cent of the flavour comes from the cask,\u201d says Michalski \u2013 and that\u2019s what gives their whiskies their unmistakable character.<\/p>\n\n

\"The
Inside the manufactory. Photo: Dresden Whisky Manufactory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Dresden Whisky Manufactory: What shapes the character of Saxon whisky<\/h2>\n\n

From the size and shape of the stills to the choice of malt and yeast, every detail matters \u2013 right down to the time and temperature of fermentation. \u201cAll of this shapes our whisky,\u201d says Michalski. Each decision was made with utmost care: selecting the right yeast alone took six months. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThere are still small refinements we\u2019re making,\u201d he adds. That includes fine-tuning the fermentation temperature. \u201cOur brewers continue to optimise things day by day \u2013 and they\u2019ll be doing so for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

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