Elsburn

On 19 September 2019, the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg handed down a ruling that made the German whisky scene sit up: the name "The Glen Els" for a whisky from the Harz region constituted an unlawful evocation of the protected geographical indication "Scotch Whisky" - regardless of the fact that the German origin was clearly stated on the label. The makers at Hercynian Distilling Co. (also known as Hammerschmiede) subsequently had to completely rename their previously successful brand, striking every reminder of the Scottish "Glen" from the name: since then, the Harz single malt has simply been called Elsburn. A rare case where a court ruling directly led to the reinvention of a well-known German whisky brand.

ElsBurn Emperor’s Way - The Imperial Abbey - Batch #1 48%vol. 0,7l

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€109.99 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days

€76.99

Details & Buy

ElsBurn Heartgow Spring 2026

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€118.56 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days

€82.99 UVP: €84.90 (2.25% saved)

Details & Buy

ElsBurn Heartgow 2025 Autumn

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€128.56 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days

€89.99

Details & Buy

ElsBurn 10 year old Distillery Edition Batch No. 002

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€177.13 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days

€123.99 UVP: €134.90 (8.09% saved)

Details & Buy

Why did "The Glen Els" have to be renamed?

The Hamburg Higher Regional Court ruled in 2019 that the word "Glen" - even on a whisky clearly labelled as German - constitutes an unlawful evocation of the protected designation "Scotch Whisky".

What remained of the original brand?

The distillery itself (Hercynian Distilling Co./Hammerschmiede) and its Harz location stayed unchanged - only the brand name had to be completely redesigned, from "The Glen Els" to "Elsburn".

Flavour profile

Taste: Dark, fruity and at times smoky, shaped by maturation in sherry, port and other sweet wine casks.

Recommended enjoyment: Taste neat, to discover the unusual cask variety for a German whisky.

Start with Elsburn The Harz.

Facts and figures

Hamburg Higher Regional Court ruling of 19 September 2019 on the impermissibility of "Glen" for non-Scotch whisky. Renamed from "The Glen Els" to Elsburn since 2019. Producer: Hercynian Distilling Co./Hammerschmiede, Harz.