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Ehrenwert GmbH: One recipe – two families

One recipe – two families. Each family has its own carefully guarded secret recipe, and with the Lücke family this remained in the hands of grandfather Heinz and later his son Dieter for many decades. Long enough, thought sons Thomas and Christian. In any case, it is the ‘Felsenfeuer’ herb liqueur that once made the Lücke Distillery one of the most important in Münsterland. After the war they continued the success story which first began in the 18th century, with this herb liqueur, using the recipe that Heinz Lücke worked out. In the 1950s everyone was talking about it, but in the 1960s the era of the distillery and the herb liqueur ended. But not for good – 60 years later it celebrated its resurrection with the ‘Freudenfeuer’.

Whilst searching for a distillery, Thomas and Christian kept to family tradition, as their grandmother was a Sasse, and the Sasses’ fine distillery in Schöppingen is still well known today. Following a traditional recipe from 1947 the new liqueur is distilled in small batches and is bottled by hand after a ten-day rest period. Ready to enjoy: neat and ice cold like in the time of our grandfathers, or smoother, on ice with lightly pressed orange zest, or as a basis for a long drink with tonic water or ginger ale. To old times and new friends!

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Freudenfeuer.

Cologne Spirits: Cheers from Cologne!

The team at Gin de Cologne is actually a traditional promotion agency. They are all from Cologne and true gin enthusiasts. Concepts are developed for parties and festivals, in clubs and at points of sale. Managing Direc-tor Abbass Khatami had the idea of producing a gin in 2017. Whatever he does, he does with passion – and the rest is a story of success. Following intensive preparation and in coordination with experienced distillers, in November 2017 the first product was launched: Gin de Cologne. Made in Cologne, but not just for the people of Cologne, as this delicious treat was to be distributed around the world.

For 20 years, the agency has also represented big brand names in the spirit world (Captain Morgan, Baileys, Aperol, Ouzo 12, etc.), and so the team know how to market a product effectively and to the right target group. By a variety of means, including tastings at trade fairs, an impressive level of recognition has been reached and Gin de Cologne has been established as a new brand. It can also be seen on large billboards as the agency won the 18/1 Award 2018 with the slogan ‘Alle guten Dinge sind dry’ (‘All good things are dry’).

Aside from good marketing and a good story, the product also has to be right. In this case the concept is to appeal to everybody. Twelve botanicals – including lime, lemon and orange peel, hibiscus, lavender and, of course, juniper – provide the London Dry Gin with fine nuances which tickle the taste buds of gin rookies and connoisseurs alike.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Gin de Cologne.

ERBER Edelbrände: Tyrolean appreciation and a celebration of fine distillates

For over 350 years, high-quality fine brandies, schnapps, spirits and liqueurs have been handmade from various kinds of fruit at Erber in Brixen im Thale. For an original Tyrolean fine brandy or Tyrolean schnapps, only hand-selected and fully ripened fruits of the best quality are processed in the oldest copper still distillery in Tyrol. Double distilled, diluted with their own spring water and some stored in wooden barrels, Erber fine brandies and schnapps are part of a traditional Tyrolean love of fine things.

The record of success: Master Class Distillery and Master Class Distillery with double gold for Tiroler Jagertee, gold for Blackcurrant Brandy, Wurzler, Süßwurzler, Brixx43 Gin, Old Rye Brandy (wood), Old Plum Brandy, Old Mirabelle Brandy, Muscatel Grape Brandy, Plum Brandy, Rowanberry Schnapps and Damson Fruit Liqueur, and silver for Williams Pear Schnapps, Coffee Spirit, Mirabelle Brandy, Rose Apricot, Tiroler Zirbener (stone pine) and Tiroler Nusseler (nut).