Copenhagen, Denmark rises from the North Sea winds like a city carved from legend. Its streets carry the echoes of Viking longships, its culture shaped by centuries of grit, artistry, and reinvention. In the modern era, the city leans into hygge… that warm, effortless comfort that softens the edges of daily life. However, beneath the calm surface, something louder has always been stirring.
Since 2001, Volbeat has been on an electrified global conquest that blends rock, metal, and the unmistakable pulse of their Danish roots. The current line up is Michael Poulsen (lead guitar and vocals), Jon Larsen (drums), Kaspar Boye Larsen (bass), and Flemming C. Lund (guitar). The band has built a legacy across nine powerhouse albums that have taken them from cramped clubs to the world’s biggest stages, and earned them a fan base that spans continents. Their high‑octane performances and unmistakable sound have secured their place in the pantheon of modern heavy music. They’re not just on the road to Metal Valhalla, they’re already carving their names into its gates.
In 2016, the story took a new turn. Volbeat Spirits was born, led by Outlaw Gentlemen Irish Whiskey, first as a triple‑distilled expression, then a 12‑year sherry‑kissed elder sibling. The line expanded with three rum expressions: Seal the Deal, Volbeat No. III, and Volbeat Rum Limited Edition.
In partnership with The Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk, Ireland, Michael Poulsen set out to craft spirits rooted in memory, shaped by experience, and guided by the same authenticity that defines his music. With Brian Morgan, Head of Commercial Operations, helping bring the vision to life, the collaboration became a business venture with a shared heartbeat. Much like Volbeat’s music, these spirits are built on honesty, passion, and a fierce devotion to craft.
Whiskey Network caught up with Michael Poulsen in early 2026, fresh off the band’s massive Gods of Angels Trust tour in support of their new release Gods of Angels. This is part one of our two‑part feature: an exploration of the memories, music, and spirits that shape the man behind the sound.
A Memory from the Past
When asked about his earliest memories of whiskey, Michael laughs: “A lot of hangovers.” It’s a familiar beginning where most of us start with indulgence, long before we understand the experience. In the world where rock and roll meets whiskey, Jack Daniel’s is practically a rite of passage where iconic photos, backstage stories, and decades of music history orbit around that bottle. That’s where he started… but not where he stayed.
Everything changed the day a friend handed him a glass of Johnnie Walker Blue. “I was blown away,” he recalls. “There were flavors I’d never experienced before. They stayed with me on the palate, and in the nose.” That moment opened the door to whiskey as a sensory journey, not just a drink.
An another day, while sorting through his collection, Michael opened a bottle that transported him somewhere unexpected. “I took a sip and something happened. I was on the back of a moped with my dad. I was very young, and in the summer he’d take me for a ride. We’d go out to the cornfields to pick some for his birds. We’d pass apple trees, pear trees, fields of grass. It was like a time machine. My father died in 2008, so that sip was emotional for me.”
The whiskey? Green Spot. And with that moment, his love for Irish whiskey took root.
Setting the Scene for Whiskey
Whiskey is as much about atmosphere as it is about flavor. The setting, the music, the weather… everything plays a part. In his basement, Michael has built his own sanctuary: a bar filled with pieces from England, Holland, and Germany, ultimately a space that feels like a modern speakeasy grounded in classic bar culture.
Connected to it is a vault of vinyl. Music and whiskey intertwine, each unlocking memories and moods. When he’s alone, the room becomes a sensory cocoon that is warm, nostalgic, and deeply personal. Many of those memories circle back to his father.
When friends join him, the warmth continues. Bottles open freely, stories flow, and the room becomes a hub of music, whiskey, and camaraderie. Sometimes they’ll throw on a boxing match or an F1 race, which are two passions he follows closely. “I’m a big boxing nerd,” he says. “And a big Formula One fan. When I see the right results, it always screams for a good whiskey!”
For a glimpse of his home bar, watch the video here. Below is a screen caputre of Michael and his bar.
A Whiskey Story: All Roads Lead to Lemmy
In rock and metal, one truth stands tall: all roads eventually lead to Lemmy. And that road is always paved with Jack and Coke.
Michael remembers one moment vividly. “One of his crew came up to me and said Lemmy wanted to see me in his dressing room. We’d toured with Motörhead and Megadeth before, so I’d spoken to him before. So I told them I’d be there in a minute.”
He walked in to find two glasses of Jack and Coke waiting. Lemmy wanted to play him the new album, unreleased and not quite finished at the time. “He was so humble about it,” Michael says. “I felt like I was drinking from the Holy Grail. That was the best Jack and Coke I’ve ever had.”
A simple moment. No ego. No theatrics. Just whiskey and rock and roll—exactly as it should be.
Be sure to check out the new Volbeat album “Gods of Angels Trust” which is available now. Be sure to check the Volbeat official social media channels for more information regarding tours and festival dates.
This concludes part one of our interview with Michael Poulsen of Volbeat. In part two, we’ll dive deeper into Volbeat Spirits and explore the music that continues to shape his journey.
