The First Georgian Whisky
The Georgian winemaker and entrepreneur Jimsher Chkhaidze, grew up surrounded by a deep-rooted tradition of winemaking, a legacy dating back to his grandfather in the 1880s. With this rich heritage in his blood, Jimsher began to dream of something bold and new: crafting the first Georgian whisky in the homeland of wine. Driven by dedication, he travelled to Scotland to immerse himself in the art of whisky-making.
In 2017, that dream became a reality when he proudly bottled the first Georgian whisky under the name JIMSHER. Since then, Jimsher whisky has become a symbol of Georgian craftsmanship, blending ancient traditions with modern distilling techniques, and introducing the world to a truly unique spirit rooted in Georgia’s winemaking soul.
It’s a Story in a Bottle
1. The Georgian Soul
Jimsher isn’t just made in Georgia, it embodies Georgia. From the country’s ancient winemaking traditions to its unique climate and culture, Jimsher whisky reflects a land where alcohol has been lovingly crafted for over 8,000 years.
2. Wine Cask Finishes – A Georgian Twist
Unlike any other whisky, Jimsher is aged in casks that once held iconic Georgian wines like Saperavi, Tsinandali, Georgian Brandy and Triple. This fusion of Scotch-style whisky techniques with Georgian winemaking tradition gives the whisky unmistakable local character and makes Jimsher truly unique.
3. Craftsmanship Meets Innovation
Jimsher follows traditional whisky-making processes: malting, mashing, fermenting, distilling, aging, finishing, and bottling. But does so with precision and modern technology. The distillery balances heritage with innovation, ensuring high quality while exploring new expressions.
4. Georgia’s Climate = Unique Aging Profile
Georgia’s warmer climate (compared to Scotland or Ireland) speeds up the aging process slightly and intensifies the interaction between the whisky and the wood. This leads to bolder flavors and often a smoother finish, even at a younger age.
As whisky ages in barrels, a small amount evaporates each year, this is called the angel’s share. In Georgia’s warmer climate, this evaporation can be faster, which may accelerate aging but also reduces yield.
5. Pioneering Spirit
Jimsher is the first ever Georgian whisky, a bold venture that broke new ground in a country better known for wine. It carved out a new category and put Georgia on the global whisky map, a huge achievement for a small, emerging distilling region.
The Craft Behind JIMSHER Whisky
Stage 1: Malting
Breaking Down the Barley
Barley is soaked in Caucasus Mountains water, allowed to sprout and then dried in a kiln. This activates enzymes that convert starch into sugar which is crucial for fermentation later.
Stage 2: Mashing
Turning Malted Barley into Sweet Liquid Gold
The malted barley is ground into grist and mixed with hot water in a mash tun. This extracts the sugars from the grain into a sweet liquid called wort.
Stage 3: Fermentation
Nature Meets Time
Yeast is added to the cooled wort in fermentation tanks. Yeast converts sugars into alcohol and produces a low-alcohol liquid called wash (6 - 8 % ABV). This is where alcohol begins to form and the flavor profile starts to emerge.
Stage 4: Distillation
Purifying the Spirit
The wash is distilled twice, first in a wash still and then in a spirit still, to separate alcohol and refine the spirit. This concentrates the alcohol and removes impurities. Only the heart cut (the best part) is used for aging.
Stage 5: Maturation
Where the Raw Spirit Becomes Real Whisky
The distilled spirit is filled into oak barrels and aged for at least 3 years (often more). The whisky develops its flavor, aroma, color, and smoothness through interaction with the wood and oxygen.
Stage 6: Finishing & Bottling
Jimsher Unique Touch Where the Magic Happens
After initial aging, Jimsher UNIQUE process is transferring the whisky to special Georgian wine and Brandy barrels before bottling, to layer in extra flavor. Jimsher is the only whisky in the world finished in Wine and Brandy casks.The finished whisky is bottled and labeled by the finishing cask name: SAPERAVI, TSINANDALI, GEORGIAN BRANDY, and TRIPLE. This is the final step before it reaches whisky lovers everywhere.
Whisky Products
Jimsher Whisky
A Unique Aging Process
Unlike any other whisky, Jimsher is aged in casks that once held iconic Georgian wines like Saperavi and Tsinandali, along with Georgian brandy. This rare technique infuses the whisky with distinctive aromas and flavors.
Whisky with a Georgian Accent
Smooth, bold, and aromatic — Jimsher Whisky offers whisky lovers around the world a new, unforgettable taste rooted in Georgian tradition.
