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Bimmerle: Know-how meets regionality and trend awareness

At the production location in the Black Forest town of Sasbach, which was opened in 2015, the family business sets innovative standards in technology, sustainability and environmental protection. For the last five decades, Bimmerle has strived for the highest quality, with targeted know-how, modern high-tech and the traditional art of distilling. This is the first distillery in Germany where all their heating requirements and power generation are covered by the burning of fruit stones combined with woodchips from the region.

In Germany and on the European market, Bimmerle is a leader in the fruit brandies sector with the Lörch brand, as ‘evergreens’ are currently enjoying a renaissance and have reclaimed a place in the restaurant and bar scene. Needle Black Forest Gin is among the top 5 most widely sold gins in Germany. The portfolio has been expanded since 2018 with Wood Stork Spiced Rum and the EVERMANN Black Forest whiskies Theo & Wilhelm introduced in 2022.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for the Master Class Distillery 2024 for Zünftler Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Best Moments Sahnelikör Vanillekipferl (vanilla cream liqueur), Best Moments Sahnelikör weiße Schokolade mit Tonkabohne (white chocolate with tonka bean cream liqueur), Sahnelikör Dominostein (cream liqueur), Selection Sahnelikör gebrannte Mandel (roasted almonds cream liqueur), Wood Stork Spiced Rum, Don Pasquale Limoncello Liqueur and Needle Blackforest Distilled Dry Gin, silver for Kronenhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Zünftler Waldhimbeergeist (forest raspberry spirit), Sahnelikör Vanillekipferl (vanilla cream liqueur), Lörch Altes Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser (damson spirit) and Lörch Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), and bronze for Zinselhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy) and Deluxe Pistazien Sahnelikör (pistachio cream liqueur).

Kamiki Drinks: Japanese spirits with cult status

Kamiki Drinks is a multinational company with its headquarters in Amsterdam which markets top spirits from Japan. Gin comes from the Kishi Kumano Distillery in Wakayama. The company is part of the leading manufacturer of alcoholic drinks, Plum Food Co., which can already look back on more than 50 years of experience.

The finest spring water is used for the Sakaki Craft Gin range from a region which is known as the land of the Gods. The evergreen Sakaki tree is known in Japan as a holy plant and is used in religious ceremonies. As a world first it has now also been selected as a botanical for a gin, and this is where the name comes from. As well as Sakaki, juniper berries, coriander seeds, caraway, star anise, pimento, cloves, cinnamon, lemon peel, pepper, lavender, bay leaves, wasabi, ginger and others are also used.

One other spirit rarity that has made its way to Europe via the distributor Yoshino Spirits in Osaka is Umiki Whisky. Inspired by Japan’s respect for nature and the ocean as the source of life, local malt whiskies were blended with grain whiskies from around the world, before being mixed with filtered seawater and refined in Japanese pine barrels – in Japan, the pine tree is a symbol of life.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Umiki Ocean Fused Whisky, and silver for Sakaki Gin.