History In A Bottle: Hammerhead Czech 30-Year-Old Single Malt

This 30-year-old single malt is about as old as The Velvet Revolution, a nonviolent power shift in what was then known as Czechoslovakia. The revolution occurred during November 17, 1989 to December 29, 1989, marking the end to a 41-year-long autocratic rule.  

A Revolutionary Spirit, Born Out Of Revolution

For 41 years, the Communist regime controlled Czechoslovakia. This affected the means of production from all angles, including the distilleries- which were forced to make single malt whisky. One distillery in Prádlo was the only one in the entire country of Czechoslovakia. At the onset of production some peat from Scotland was smuggled in for use in malting. After that it was very difficult to reliably source peat in Czechoslovakia. Whatever small amounts were available were used in the production of Hammerhead. However, once The Fall of the Iron Curtain came in 1979, Communism was brought to an end in Czechoslovakia, and a series of serendipitous events led to a fine vintage whisky that was a revolution of its own.  

One Man's Trash, Another Man's Treasure: A Fortunate Find 

This shift in cultural and economic paradigms led to many new changes and events that would alter the course of whisky production in Czechoslovakia. People forgot about the old, outdated casks of whisky for a while, and they were left to lay in the cellars. During this time, they rested in their hand−made Virgin Czech Oak Casks for 30 years. These 30 years that seemed uneventful, would later change the course of history for whisky. These 30 years of sitting and aging were interrupted when new distillery owners came through, rediscovered the casks, and released them as "Hammerhead Single Malt Whisky". These pioneers found an old, left behind gem from the past, polished off the bottles, and gave them a new name. The name “Hammerhead” is a reference to the hammer on the USSR Flag, as well as to the type of mill used to crush the barley that makes up the spirit. Hammerhead Single Malt Whisky would become a rare and exquisite vintage whisky.  

The Distilling Process: A Look Inside The Bottle

Hammerhead Single Malt is crafted using pure water from a Bohemian source. The water rich in iron affects the taste and smoothness of the final product that those with refined tastes will appreciate. Another main source of flavor and richness is from the Czech oak barrels that the spirit rests in, delivering 60-70% of the flavor. These barrels are located in Prádlo, off the beaten path among the fresh countryside air. Today, the Master Distiller of Hammerhead is Kristina Demeloca, who studied under Vaclav Sitner in 1989 when he was Master Distiller. Before Vaclav was Demeloca’s father, who was the first Master Distiller of Hammerhead. Today, Demeloca continued the practice of fine-tuning the quality and expression of Hammerhead whisky to perfection. She safeguards the valuable art of Czech single malt whisky-making and carries on the family tradition of whisky crafting.  

The Cask is Back: Limited Edition Rare Vintage Whisky

In 2017, Glass Revolution was offered a chance to import Hammerhead Single Malt Whisky into the United States. At the time, it was a 28-Year-Old Czech Rare Single Malt Whisky- and the single casks completely sold out. Now for a limited time only, the rare Czech Single Malt Whisky is back! You can now drink 30-Year-Old Czech Single Malt Whisky, a rare vintage whisky aged to perfection. Our supply is limited to 300 bottles only, so it will be first-come, first-serve. The cask strength of this one-of-a-kind drink is 51.2% ABV, so crack a bottle open and celebrate something! There’s much to celebrate, and there’s no better way to celebrate The Velvet Revolution, which marked the end of Communist Rule, freedom, and Czechoslovakian history.