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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.

Berentzen Group: 260 years of cultured distilled spirits

Berentzen Group is an innovative beverage company that boasts a wide portfolio and develops, produces and markets varied and fashionable drinks concepts. The portfolio includes spirits, alcohol-free beverages and fresh juices. With over 260 years of experience, they are one of the oldest national manufacturers of spirits and have a market presence in over 60 countries to date, with brands such as Berentzen and Puschkin as well as reasonably priced private label products.

In April 2023, Norden Sea Salt Gin was launched on the German market under the Doornkaat brand. It is a speciality on the gin shelf, as selected North Sea botanicals create an extraordinary and intense taste experience: juniper provides the spice, sea buckthorn and rosehip the fruity tartness. Norden Sea Salt Gin is rounded off with a pinch of sea salt. This spirit spreads the genuine nature and authenticity of the North Sea coast throughout Germany. It is versatile and can be enjoyed neat, on ice or mixed as a long drink or cocktail.

Tres Países Premium Rum combines distillates from Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic. After being stored for up to eight years in American white oak bourbon casks, they come to Europe for refinement by the master blender. The characteristics of the countries provide the taste profile: vanilla and butterscotch, elegant fruit, banana and chocolate. It is also available in a port cask finish, which is refined in aged casks for another six months.

At the World Spirits Award 2026, there was Gold for Tres Países Premium Rum and Silver for Doornkaat Norden Sea Salt Gin.

Edgar Wernbacher – Authenticity from Hochsteiermark

For over 65 years, the Wernbacher family business has been known for stylish, traditional costume fashion. This means the best quality of materials and high-quality workmanship just as much as the love of tradition and its modern interpretation. This philosophy also applies to the distillery. “My grandfather was a connoisseur, and I also became a gourmet. A few years ago, my dreams came true with the opening of the new traditional costume shop and distillery. With the traditional costumes, our company is based on tradition, honesty, consistency and living handicrafts, and that is also reflected in our fine brandies. The time is right for honest and authentic concepts and products.”

The raw materials largely originate from the region: “Waldheimat – Semmering – Veitsch” which is how the easternmost area of Hochsteiermark is known. Fresh fruit is sorted by hand, cooled and prepared for the mash. Free from additives or sugar, distillation is carried out according to traditional double distilling methods in copper boilers. The resulting products have an unmistakable, genuine fruity character. The new product is Gin Bumm, which carries the ‘emblem’ of the company on its label – the stone sheep ram Ötzi. The idea arose during a gin tasting in London, and the final result is a very clear, high-quality London Dry Gin. Among the 13 botanicals, lavender, citrus and wild fennel determine the taste as well as juniper berries.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Rosenapfel (apple), Der Nimbus Apfel Cuvée (apple), Der Mythos Obst Cuvée (fruits), Schafnase Apfel (apple), and silver for Edgar’s Gin Bumm and red Williams pear.

5020 Gin: Bottled Life – Handcrafted in Salzburg.

In the heart of the city of Salzburg, at Rainberg 5, there is a farmhouse which was built in 1671. In these historical surroundings, the 5020 London Dry Gin is produced in small batches. The centrepiece is the small distilling room, where all the stages are carried out by hand and where the gin is gently distilled in a 100-litre copper vat. The distilling process alone takes between 24 and 26 hours, and only takes place in small batches of 75 to 80 bottles – following the motto ‘back to the roots’ in the beautiful city of Salzburg with the postcode 5020. And on the subject of the roots of gin, London Dry Gin is made exclusively of natural ingredients which are processed in their most original form. 5020 Gin uses 23 organically cultivated botanicals. By hanging an aroma basket directly in the still, the hand-selected essences can develop their aroma perfectly. The gentle increase in temperature, constant inspections and four weeks of storage in glass demijohns perfect its quality.

Stephan Koudelka taught himself all about gin distillation over many years, accompanied by disappointments and setbacks. Perseverance, meticulousness and passion were his partners on the path to his unique recipe. Care in the selection of ingredients, patience during the distillation process and a love for detail characterise the distiller. All the way to the features of the characteristic bottle, you can see that, in this small craft distillery with its special charm, quality is valued highly, and this was rewarded with silver at the World Spirits Award.