World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Diageo India: Single malt with the spirit of the desert

Diageo India, as a subsidiary of the world market leader Diageo, is the leading alcoholic drinks company in the country with a wide portfolio of over 50 spirits brands – old and new, big and small, global and local, in almost every price segment in every category. Each spirit has its own story to tell – of tradition, craftsmanship, innovative production and inspiring design. One of these is Godawan whisky.

It was born in Rajasthan, an area with a flourishing heritage of proud artisans who uphold old traditions and foster a rich culture of art, design, music and architecture. This heritage is also a cornerstone in the production of the single malt – from the grain to the glass – in an exceptional environment. It makes use of the heat in the extreme climate and of local ingredients, to create malts with a great depth of taste. The basis is locally sourced, six-row barley, a crop with a higher protein content, slowly distilled after malting and matured at high temperatures. It is then finalised in special barrels with Indian plant substances, ensuring an authentic taste. The bottle sports a giant bustard, a bird that symbolises the exceptional culture of the region. Once present throughout India, the shrinking habitats are driving the majestic bird to extinction. The last of the remaining 150 birds have found refuge in the rough desert of Rajasthan.

At the World Spirits Award, silver was awarded to Godawan Single Malt Rich and Rounded Artisan Whisky, Godawan Single Malt Fruit and Spice Artisan Whisky.

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).