The History and Development of Moe Distillery 2009 – today

The starting point of the modern Moe Distillery can be traced back to December 2, 2009, when the current owners acquired the Rakvere and Moe distilleries, which had gone bankrupt during the financial crises. At that time, there were no functioning spirit factories left in Estonia. The initial plan was to modernize and restart Rakvere’s spirit production while investing in the restoration of Kurberg’s distillery.

CEO Sven Ivanov and partner Urmas Nimmerfeldt brought together former master distillers, recruited new specialists, and began operations. Unfortunately, on August 4, 2020, Sven Ivanov passed away unexpectedly due to a sudden health condition. Despite changes in leadership, the core values and goals of the company have remained unchanged: to honor local raw materials, continue domestic production, preserve and develop centuries-old traditions, and create high-quality products.

Rakvere Spirit Factory

Production at Rakvere Spirit Factory resumed in 2010, after a few years of inactivity. From the beginning, only Estonian grain, primarily rye, was used, as rye has historically and culturally been Estonia’s most significant grain.

In 2012, the distillery produced its first organically certified spirit, which was a rarity at the time due to the limited availability of organic alcohol on the market. While the Rakvere facility mainly focused on spirit production, the experienced team, led by Jaan Tamm, successfully produced grain distillate using the same equipment. Unlike spirit production, distillation preserves the flavors and aromas of the grain.

The first batch of organic rye distillate was produced in 2015 and was named Handsa, reflecting the essence of the drink. Following the success of Handsa, the next major goal was to create Estonia’s first whisky distillate. In 2016, rye whisky distillate was produced and placed in oak barrels at Moe for aging.

Sustainability Investments

Several sustainability-focused investments were made at the Rakvere facility:

• 2013 – A biomass-powered cogeneration plant was built to produce the necessary steam for the factory while also supplying heating for the city of Rakvere.
• 2014 – A feed factory was established to process spirit production byproducts into animal feed pellets.

Expansion into Sanitizers and the Move to Moe

In 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis, Estonian Spirit OÜ expanded its operations to include the production of disinfectants, launching Virus Stop sanitizing products for both hands and surfaces.

Later that year, spirit production in Rakvere was discontinued, and the factory relocation to Moe begun. While the spirit factory is yet to be fully operational, Estonian Spirit began small-scale distillation at Moe in 2022. During the restoration of the old Moe vodka factory, new 1600L and 100L distillation units were installed, allowing for the production of gin, aquavit, and various distillates. This facility, informally known as Handsa Distillery, is ideal for developing experimental and exclusive products.

Moe Distillery

While spirit production was ongoing in Rakvere, a bottling facility was established in Moe. Initially, both Rakvere and Moe operations were part of Estonian Spirit OÜ. In 2016, the decision was made to separate vodka production legally, forming Moe OÜ, which took over the bottling and production at Moe.

Expanding the Product Range

Grain can be used to produce various alcoholic beverages, including vodka, flavored vodka, grain brandy, whisky, gin, and aquavit. Moe is committed to enhancing the value of Estonian grain, gradually introducing products based on either grain spirit or grain distillate.

• 2011 – Production of vodka at Moe began with Moe Viin 1886.
• 2012 – The organic version, Moe Viin Mahe 1886, was introduced.
• 2018 – J.J.Kurberg Rye, a rye malt vodka was produced, using in part malted rye which is rare in today’s spirit production industry.
• The uniqueness of Moe vodka lies in the skilled processing of local grain and the use of water sourced from the Pandivere Water Protection Area. The water is naturally hard due to the limestone bedrock and undergoes reverse osmosis filtration before being blended into vodka.
• 2017 – Estonia’s first EU-protected geographical indication was established for Estonian Vodka. The designation ensures that only vodka made from Estonian grain, Estonian spirit, and Estonian water can be called Estonian Vodka.

After vodka production was firmly established, the next logical step was to develop flavored vodkas. Moe focuses on natural flavors and high-quality local ingredients, avoiding artificial additives and added sugars.

• 2015 – The J.J. Kurberg flavored vodka series was launched with J.J. Kurberg Kuldjuur and J.J. Kurberg Pipar.
• 2017 – J.J. Kurberg Hemp and J.J. Kurberg Hops.

The next category developed was rye brandy.

• 2016 – Handsa rye brandy was introduced in three different strengths.
• 2018 – flavored Handsa series was developed, featuring sea-buckthorn, rowanberry, wild garlic, and black garlic.
• 2023 – The Handsa Barrel Aged edition, aged in oak barrels, was released as an exclusive small batch.

Gin, Whisky, and New Innovations

• 2017 – Estonia’s abundance of junipers inspired the creation of Mohn Poppy Distilled Gin.
• 2022 – Mohn Poppy Spruce Tip London Gin and Mohn Poppy London Gin
• 2019 – After three years of aging, Estonia’s first whisky, Tamm & Rukis, was released. The series is still in its early stages but includes two single cask releases from small ex-Oloroso casks.
• The Estonian Whisky Founders Club was established, allowing members to purchase their own whisky casks and track their aging process.
• 2021 – Saxby Akvavit, a Scandinavian-style spirit aged in oak barrels and flavored with seaweed, was introduced.
• 2023 – The Signature Cocktail series, featuring ready-to-drink cocktails, was launched. Drinks like Skinny B*tch (Moe Viin 1886), Gin & Soda (Mohn Poppy Distilled Gin), and Michelada (J.J. Kurberg Pipra vodka and Muddis beer) are made following the same high-quality standards as all Moe products.

Muddis Brewery

Beer brewing at Moe dates back to 1688, but over the centuries, production shifted towards vodka. Jakob Kurberg’s brewery once produced Muddis Pilsner, Porter, and mead, but brewing ceased in 1914 due to Prohibition.

• 2015 – After more than 100 years, beer production resumed at Moe. A modern brewery was installed in the historic brewery building, and Muddis Craft Beer was launched, now offering five main varieties with continuous new flavor experiments.

Moe Museum & Visitor Center

The historic vodka factory built by J. Kurberg in 1887 has undergone extensive renovations to preserve its heritage and give it new life.

• The right wing houses the museum across three floors.
• The central section includes the Handsa Distillery and hotel reception.
• The left wing features a 200m² event hall with eight boutique hotel rooms above it.
• The brewery cellar now serves as Õlletuba Krog, offering tastings and feasts.
• A factory shop sells locally produced beverages.

The combination of tradition, innovation, and sustainability ensures that Moe Distillery continues to shape the future of Estonian spirits while honoring its rich past.