ORMA Whisky Distillery

Here's Where You Can Find the World's Highest-altitude Whiskey Distillery

"Perched at 3,303 meters and founded by Pascal Mittner and Rinaldo Willy, this small-batch producer makes Orma — a Romansh-named single malt that positions itself as Europe’s most eco-friendly whiskey. Distilling on the high-altitude site preserves more aromas and complexity (the process runs roughly 10°C cooler than at sea level), uses local spring water, and incorporates Alpine herbs such as Swiss stone pine. Production is deliberately limited and artisanal: every batch is a numbered, limited edition (there are about 12 different offerings), most casks are moved down for aging in valley cellars and monasteries, and a special run of 288 bottles remains aged on the mountain in the ski-station basement. The project began as a personal annual toast between the founders and emphasizes locality, sustainability, and rarity — the whiskey is not exported and is only available to taste on-site or at a few select venues." - Erica Firpo Erica Firpo Erica Firpo is a Rome-based travel and lifestyle journalist, author, and podcast host. She has written several books on Italy and contributes stories about contemporary Italy to publications including The Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, and The Guardian. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines