Belgian Distillery Gone: Old Caperdonich Stills Up for Auction

Saturday, 10 October 2026 at 08:42

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Things are not looking good for Belgian whisky distillery Belgian Owl. The distillery closed earlier this year, after which an attempt was made to sell everything as a single package. Unfortunately, that did not produce the desired result. As a result, everything will now go under the hammer separately, from the stills to the final bottles.

Auction house Auctim has announced that the assets of The Owl Distillery will be offered through several online auctions. This makes a continuation of the distillery in its current form seem increasingly unlikely. More than 20,600 bottles, over 3,500 whisky casks and even historic stills from Scotland will be put up for sale.

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Historic Scottish stills go up for auction

Perhaps the most remarkable items in the auction are two copper stills dating back to 1898. They originally came from the former Caperdonich Distillery in Scotland’s Speyside region. The stills have capacities of approximately 11,000 and 8,000 litres. Caperdonich’s original spirit safe, used to monitor the flow of alcohol during distillation, will also be auctioned.

For enthusiasts of Scottish whisky history, these are truly exceptional pieces. Caperdonich closed its doors for good in 2002, and the distillery was later demolished. The stills were given a new lease of life at Belgian Owl, but must now find another owner.

More than 20,600 bottles of Belgian Owl whisky for sale

It is not just the equipment that is being sold. The existing whisky stocks will also go under the hammer. The sale comprises nearly 3,000 lots, containing approximately 20,600 bottles of Belgian Owl whisky in total. Among them are several of the brand’s best-known bottlings.

These include Belgian Owl 5 Years and 10 Years, as well as whiskies finished in Pedro Ximénez casks, Private Angels editions, single casks and the distinctive Gold Diamond bottlings. The auction will be of interest to collectors, whisky enthusiasts and professional traders alike. Bidding opens on 29 October 2026.

More than 3,500 whisky casks also seek new owners

In addition to the bottles, a huge stock of maturing whisky is being offered for sale. According to Auctim, this amounts to more than 3,500 whisky casks. The precise age of the whisky in these casks and the types of casks available have not yet been disclosed. The auction dates and conditions are also still to be announced.

Almost the entire production installation will also be sold, from storage silos and mash tuns to filtration systems and an automated bottling line dating from 2016. The auction of this equipment begins on 29 October and closes from 12 November 2026 onwards.

What does this mean for Belgian Owl’s future?

Belgian Owl was founded in 2004 and grew into a well-known name in the Belgian whisky world. The distillery used Belgian barley and placed a strong emphasis on the terroir of the Hesbaye region. Over the years, its whiskies earned international recognition, including at the World Whiskies Awards.

Earlier this year, an attempt was made to sell The Owl Distillery as a complete business. No buyer came forward, after which it was decided to offer the assets separately.

Whether the Belgian Owl name will return in the future remains unclear. But with the sale of the stills, whisky stocks and thousands of casks, the current chapter of this Belgian distillery appears to be drawing to a close.

For collectors, the auction could be a unique opportunity to acquire another bottle of Belgian Owl. At the same time, it is above all a sad development for a distillery that spent years building the international reputation of Belgian single malt whisky.

Want to read more on Belgian whisky? Do so here.