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Bimmerle: Know-how meets regionality and trend awareness

At the production site in the Black Forest town of Sasbach, which was opened in 2015, this family business sets innovative standards in technology, sustainability and environmental protection. For the last five decades, Bimmerle has strived for the highest quality, with focussed know-how, modern high-tech and the traditional art of distilling. This is the first distillery in Germany where all the 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. In order to make the ‘playground’ more interesting, the brand identity was modernised in 2024 and will be extended in 2025 by a fruit brandy range matured in wooden casks. 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. The Black Forest distillery has enriched the liqueur and aperitif market with as many as five exciting creations under the DON PASQUALE brand.

The World Class Distillery 2025 & Distillery of the Year 2025 – Bronze (Bitters & Liqueurs) received Gold for Don Pasquale Limoncello Liqueur, Zünftler Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Wood Stork Spiced Rum, Lörch Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Lörch Vanillekipferl Sahnelikör (vanilla cream liqueur), Needle Gin Green, Don Pasquale Aperitif Bitter Liqueur, Don Pasquale Espresso Martini Liqueur, Don Pasquale Hazelnut Liqueur and Lörch Linzertorte Sahnelikör (Linzer tart cream liqueur). Silver was awarded to Kronenhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Zinselhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Altes Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser (damson spirit), Needle Blackforest Distilled Dry Gin, Needle Gin Rosé, Don Pasquale Pistachio Cream Liqueur, Lörch Bratapfel Sahnelikör (baked apple cream liqueur), Zünftler Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Lörch Williams Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (pear spirit aged in a wooden cask) and Lörch Marille Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (apricot spirit aged in a wooden cask), and Bronze to Lörch Obst Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (fruit spirit aged in a wooden cask).

De Kuyper Royal Distillers: Liqueur specialist with a long tradition

Founded in 1695 by Petrus de Kuyper, the renowned company received the title of ‘Royal Distillers’ on the occasion of Queen Beatrix’ 300th birthday. These days the spirit producer, now in its tenth generation, is one of the ten oldest family businesses in the Netherlands. The headquarters is the large distillery in Schiedam, and Mark de Witte is the CEO of the company.

The portfolio covers a wide selection of premium cocktail liqueurs and premium spirits. The focus products are De Kuyper liqueurs as the backbone of the business, Rutte Gin & Genever, botanical experts since 1872, the cognac liqueur Mandarine Napoléon, Peachtree, the only real peach liqueur in the world, Cherry Heering Liqueur, founded in 1818 and known worldwide as Cherry Brandy, and Bébo, a Cuban coffee liqueur.

The company, with over 100 employees, is world market leader in cocktail liqueurs with exports to 100 markets worldwide and a total volume of three million 9-litre containers. Key markets are the Netherlands and the USA, the largest cocktail market in the world, as well as further influential European and Asian markets, such as Great Britain, Germany, Japan and South Korea.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Rutte Dry Gin (Spirit of the Year & World Spirits Award 2019), gold for Rutte Celery Gin and Rutte Sloe Gin, and silver for Rutte Old Simon Genever, Bébo and Mandarine Napoléon.