Old Pilot’s shifts from gin glory to whiskey gamble

Croatian distillery founders Hrvoje Busic and Tomislav Anadolac have expanded their award-winning Old Pilot’s spirits brand into whiskey manufacturing with their latest product called Nebo. The pair launched whiskey production in 2020 when pandemic restrictions forced bars and restaurants to close and gin sales collapsed. Rather than conserve resources during the uncertain period, they invested available funds from their business account to upgrade facilities and pursue their original goal of making whiskey.

The transition required processing more than 2,000 liters of distillery beer to yield 100 liters of finished whiskey and waiting a minimum of three years, as mandated by European Union standards. Their earlier work with Old Pilot’s Barrel Aged Gin taught them how wooden casks influence flavor profiles and helped them select appropriate materials for whiskey aging. The new spirit combines Croatian and American oak barrels with premium grains.

Before focusing on whiskey, Old Pilot’s London Dry Gin earned gold recognition at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, while their vodka excelled at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The founders noted that Croatian regulations offer more flexibility than Scottish or American rules, allowing greater experimentation in their production methods.