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Klippenziege: New era in the world of gin

In December 2015, four friends captured the ‘spirit’ of an idea: they were thinking about gin. Nearly a year later a small batch was bottled by hand. The individuality of a gin lies in the combination of the botanicals, in this case it is the exotic selection: mate tea, goji berries, physalis and a hint of rose. The Klippenziege is a New Western Dry Gin, in which juniper plays the main role amongst the other botanicals.

It is produced in the Habbel Distillery, which guarantees excellent quality thanks to its experience – it was established in 1878 and is now in the family’s fourth generation. The former Korn distillery in Sprockhövel with adjoining farmland is now the largest fruit distillery in the Ruhr region, as a traditional manufacturer it stands out with its attention to detail. The entire manufacturing process at Klippenziege can also be observed on-site.

The bottle and the label are also special. Designer Levent Aydin drew it carefully by hand, and then digitalised it before perfecting it. First it is printed, then coated, then stamped and embossed. The elegant result stands for friendship, solidarity and love. Working together in a friendly and familiar atmosphere connects people with a passion for life who share one important belief: that the product should encourage people to slow down, allowing for mindful enjoyment.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Mate Dry Gin.

LA SU Gin: Exotic holiday feeling in a glass

Alexander Kayser and Christopher Schuh are true gin lovers and founders of the brand LA SU Gin – a registered brand of Expo Outline Messebau und Event GmbH in Altenstadt, with Alexander Kayser as the managing partner.

After exploring many trains of thought, it was clear to both of them that it had to be exotic. LA SU Gin is a premium handcrafted gin with a hint of fruity mango. Distilled in small batches, traditionally and without additives, it is made in one of the oldest distilleries in Europe. The mango gives it a special freshness and balances the tart notes of the spices perfectly. Next to the mango, LA SU evokes a sense of travel. Enjoy a holiday feeling and discover new taste sensations. The elaborate bottle design reflects a love of detail and certainly leaves an impression.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was achieved by LA SU *MGO* Natural Mango.

Obstbrennerei Hügel: The secret behind the Hügel 22 brand

The family-run private distillery with owner Karlheinz Hügel and his son Christian produces fruit brandies, liqueurs, gin and whisky. This is one of the strengths of the Hügel family: “80 percent of the fruit is hand-picked from our natural orchards in the surrounding area.” The classic range is complemented by the modern Hügel 22 line – from gin to fine brandies.

The company was founded in 2013 as a hobby for the owners of the raw materials. The launch programme included 28 fruit brandies and liqueurs. From 2018 to 2020, Christian completed his training as a distiller and distillery specialist at the technical college for agriculture in Offenburg. This was followed in 2022 by the creation of the premium brand range Hügel 22, with eight exclusively filtered fruit brandies and a gin. The premiere was the presentation of Hügel 22 Whisky Exklusiv, limited to 380 bottles of 0.5 litres each. In 2023, the Hügel 22 range was expanded by ten liqueurs, and in 2025 by three single cask bottlings of whisky.

And what is behind the number 22? Christian Hügel solves the mystery for us: “That’s my lucky number. I was born on the 22nd and grew up at the address Im Dellbrunnen 22 in Hengsberg. I like to drink Scottish and Irish whisky and have also learned to appreciate German whisky. And that’s how the Pirmasens whisky creation came about, the first commercial whisky in the Southwest Palatinate. The base is barley from a wholesaler who tailors it to our own requirements. After three years, the whisky is fine-tuned when it is reduced to drinking strength with water from Pirmasens with a very low degree of hardness.”

At the World Spirits Award, there was Silver for Hügel 22 Whisky Edition 2, Hügel 22 Whisky Edition 3 and Hügel 22 Pflaume (plum in a port cask).

Antonino Riggio - The Wonderful World of Plants

Antonino Riggio founded his company only in 2005; the business grew out of an extensive passion for lupins. The plant with its large, colourful flowers grows wild in Central Europe and elsewhere in the world, and they make a favourite meal for bees. Gardeners employ lupins to improve the soil, cattle farmers know them to be valuable fodder plants. The cultivated species are referred to as sweet lupins; they contain fewer alkaloids than their wild counterparts. The seeds, which contain almost 50% protein, would seem to provide a successful alternative to soy. Clinical studies have shown other positive medicinal effects; substances derived from lupins can protect cells and counteract cancer, as well as help control cholesterol levels.

Plant amateur Riggio followed this up with another innovative idea in 2006. He developed a bitter named "Ginseno", processed from ginseng, aromatic herbs and medicinal plants. Ginseno is available in different flavours; Naturale, Amabile, Alla Menta, and Alla Manna. The latter contains a sap extract from the Manna Ash (Fraxinus ornus), which grows in Madonie, a nature reserve near Castelbuono. The dried sap contains mannite, a sugar substitute also used in pharmacology.

In future, Riggio plans further Ginseno variants, flavoured with Agrumi di Sicilia (oranges and mandarins), almonds and cactus fruit. All products are labelled "APLCEFALU" which refers to their origin: the town of Cefalù on the Northern coast of Sicily.

The trip to Carinthia to the World Spirits Award paid off: the bitter Ginseno alla Manna received a gold medal.