RAISING SPIRITS: THE STORY OF SLOVENIA’S BROKEN BONES DISTILLERY

Business, Feature
C.S

January 13, 2025

“When we launched our first product—Broken Bones London Dry Gin—we never imagined that six years later, we’d own a distillery, produce award-winning spirits, and receive 101 international accolades.”

BROKEN BONES

Slovenia’s rich tradition of producing fruit spirits runs deep, with nearly every farmer in the country owning a still. It’s no surprise then, that Broken Bones Distillery emerged from this culture of craftsmanship and experimentation.

Based in the nation’s capital, Ljubljana and founded by Borut Osojnik, Polona Preskar, and Boštjan Marušič, the distillery combines diverse backgrounds, a shared passion for distilling, and a drive to create exceptional spirits.

For Borut, distilling began in his family garage alongside his chemist father, where he honed his skills and developed a connoisseur’s palate for whisky. Polona grew up watching her father craft fine plum brandy from fruit grown in the family vineyard, while Boštjan’s journey started with brewing beer 20 years ago, sparking the idea that would one day lead to Broken Bones’ whisky.

Since its founding, Broken Bones has achieved remarkable milestones. In 2018, the distillery debuted its gin at a public festival, marking the beginning of its journey to widespread acclaim. Just a year later, their London Dry Gin earned the title of Best Slovene London Dry at the World Gin Awards, and their four-year-old single malt scored an impressive 96 points in the Whisky Bible.

The distillery has also transitioned from being family-run to family-owned, reflecting its steady growth and the expansion of its team. With a commitment to releasing at least one new product each year, Broken Bones is exploring exciting new segments, such as vermouth, while maintaining a focus on affordability and innovation. Their limited-edition packaging further highlights their adventurous spirit, allowing them to share experimental creations with the world.

Looking ahead, Broken Bones is set on expanding its reach, bringing the flavours of Slovenia to new audiences across the globe. The Atlantic Dispatch sat down with Polona Preskar to delve deeper into the journey of Broken Bones and the passion behind their award-winning spirits.

THE VERY NEXT DAY WE DECIDED TO CREATE OUR OWN GIN

Boštjan had dreamed of distilling whisky since his student days, even considering producing malt himself. However, the complexity of the process deterred him until Borut, learning that Boštjan brewed beer, proposed they make whisky together.

In 2012, they embarked on a mission to craft one of the world’s finest whiskies for themselves. They built the equipment, including the still, from scratch and began experimenting.

By 2017, they had perfected their recipe—selecting the right malt, yeast, fermentation duration and temperature, and barrel combinations.

After filling our first whisky barrel in 2020, we attended the Whisky Fair in London, where we discovered the world of contemporary gins. I was captivated, and Boštjan and Borut were similarly intrigued. The very next day, we decided to create our own gin.

WHEN WE LOVE IT WE KNOW IT’S DONE

The phrase dangerously smooth is frequently used by people, especially when tasting our Navy Strength Gin. It’s rich in flavour yet remarkably smooth.

We ensure all our spirits are finished to the point where we love them neat. Only when we are fully satisfied with the balance of smoothness, flavour, and aroma do we start considering cocktail ideas.

We strive to create spirits that are bold yet smooth, tasting and refining them until all three of us agree they’re perfect. We never settle for “just okay.” When we love it, we know it’s done.

WORKING WITH BOTANICALS PRESENTS CHALLENGES

Our stills were custom-designed by Boštjan and Borut to support the flavours and aromas we seek. Crafting our spirits involves a process of trial and error, guided by a solid understanding of how ingredients and techniques influence the outcome.

This means perfecting procedures, malt and yeast combinations, and constantly adjusting to achieve the desired notes for whisky.

For gin, scaling up production while maintaining quality is crucial. We mix distilled botanicals separately and then refine the process at scale. Working with botanicals presents challenges, as batches can vary, requiring a keen sense of smell and taste to ensure consistency.

SLOVENE CHARACTER TO OUR SPIRITS

We use a small amount of juniper from the Karst region, known for producing top-quality juniper.

Other Karst botanicals include linden tree blossoms and rosehips. Linden blossoms add a sweet, honey-like richness, while rosehips bring a fresh, citrusy note, enhancing our gins’ unique flavour profiles. These locally grown botanicals lend a distinct Slovene character to our spirits.

Our Slovene oak barrels, crafted from high-quality sessile oak, are integral to our whisky’s flavour profile.

The barrels are charred and treated with brandy before being used to tame their high tannin content. Our new make spirit ages in these barrels for a few weeks to six months, acquiring the tannins and fruity notes essential to our whisky’s unique character.

IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR GROWTH

When we launched our first product—Broken Bones London Dry Gin—we never imagined that six years later, we’d own a distillery, produce award-winning spirits, and receive 101 international accolades.

Our initial challenge was accepting the rapid growth of our brand. Finding a suitable location in Ljubljana was difficult due to the height requirements for our gin still. Another significant step was transitioning to full-time work for Broken Bones.

In 2019, we learned about the complexities of the international spirits business, including regulations, duties, and logistics.

Then came COVID-19, which halted exports, increased bottle prices, and created uncertainty among importers. The war in Ukraine further compounded challenges, with rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions.

Obtaining bonded warehouse status took four years but allowed us to increase whisky production. Scaling up from producing 10 barrels a year to building new whisky equipment and storage required significant investment, but it was essential for our growth.