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BBerryshka: Juniper specialities from Slovenia

In the 1950s, the Novo Mesto forestry enterprise started to produce essential oils from fir trees. At the start of the 1990s, the Kenda family took over the old distillery and specialised in the manufacturing of essential oils from juniper berries. The renovation of the distillery allowed the widening of the product range. Logical conclusion: when a lot of juniper berries are available, other products can also be realised, especially juniper brandy and gin. With a selector that works with high-speed cameras and compressed air, the berries are selected according to their colour and shape, the cleaner removes impurities such as needles, twigs, insects, dust, etc. and sorts the berries according to size. Then, a mill breaks them down into a fine grain, and in the dryer the humidity level is set for various purposes.

The London Dry Gin was one of the first of its kind in Slovenia and the juniper brandy that is made only from fermented berries matures for three years in oak barrels. Today all the products have organic certification, which additionally ensures the quality of the raw ingredients. Apart from juniper spirits, the product range comprises fruit liqueurs and soon also the first Slovenian whisky. In addition, handmade chocolates are produced, as the family enterprise owns a chocolaterie. It is on account of this that many visitors come to the little town of Obrh to get to know the variety of products.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Berryshka Purfl Blue Gin and Berryshka Bio Brinjevec, and silver to Berryshka London Dry Gin, Berryshka Gin'N Berry and Berryshka Staran Brinjevec.

2B Hemp Gin: Styrian gin experience

Two visionaries, Armin Breinl (doctor, drink creator, musician) and Wolfgang Thomann (gin maker), have created a completely new gin experience with real hemp powder: 2B HEMP GIN (inspired by AEIJST). On 17th November 2018, the two invited guests to the first tasting of 2B HEMP GIN in the AEIJST GIN distillery in St. Nikolai in the Sausal Valley.

Made from organic juniper berries, this innovative gin has an impressive, mild and fruity taste and a typical hemp note. Due to its unique aroma, it not only tastes good neat, but also creates a ‘wow’ effect in cocktails – as proven in the long drink Styrian Pale Gin AEIJST refined with 2B HEMP.

For thousands of years, hemp has been grown as a valuable plant, be it for rope, fabric, paper or as an active ingredient in ointments and tinctures. Hemp has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, yet recently has been demonised as an addictive drug and has suffered under its ensuing prohibition, originating in the USA. These days hemp is regaining importance and is being used more as a luxury food as well as in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The Lifestyle Trading company, run by Armin Breinl, is an innovative beverage producer, which is already known amongst trade professionals for its sugar-free ‘func- tional fruit drinks’. The drinks have a high fruit content (more than 50 per cent) and additional natural, vital substances and have an energising, relaxing and regenerative effect.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for 2B HEMP GIN.