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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).

Limomacher: Regionally produced – socially labelled

Limomacher is a young Bregenz enterprise, according to their own definition “excellent in graphics, design, customer service, lemonade production, social involvement and coffee drinking”. However, a look at the brief biographies of the four-person team reveals quite a bit about their wide-ranging qualifications. All lemonades are produced regionally in Vorarlberg according to their own recipes. Short pathways right up until labelling – also labels for private customers and companies on request – reinforce sustainability, along with filling exclusively in glass bottles. The labelling, as well as the whole warehousing, are handled by Lebenshilfe Vorarlberg, a support organisation for people with disabilities. This is an indication that social thinking has been of great importance from the beginning.

At the beginning of 2018, the ‘Franz von Durst’ brand started in Spar shops, followed by the start-up shelf at Metro. The company developed a gin along with a tonic water for this purpose, as the first manufacturer in retailing that offers both as a one-stop shop. The gin that is also regionally produced goes perfectly with the tonic water and its animating and aromatic concept offers an exceptionally fruity drinking experience. Aside from the juniper base, five further botanicals play a role: angelica root provides a slight tanginess and supports the homogenous taste; orange peel is characterised by a range of aromatic substances and a fine hint of citrus; liquorice provides a complex sweetness with a slightly earthy note; elderberry has an intensive and refreshing taste; and hops gives it a special something.

“We are delighted that the Vorarlberg locals have received our gin so well and that we can expand step by step also into other provinces,” say the two young entrepreneurs.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was achieved by Franz von Durst Gin, and silver by Franz von Durst Dry Gin Wild.

Bobby’s Gin: Dutch courage with Indonesian spirit

This family business is based in Schiedam in the south of the Netherlands, which is well known for its centuries-old tradition of distilling. The company was named after Jacobus ‘Bobby’ Alfons. He skilfully blended Dutch jenever with a Pinang Raci blend of spices that reminded him of his homeland of Naku on the Moluccan spice island of Ambon. His grandson Sebastiaan started his professional career in the drinks industry and felt it was time to create something new that came from the heart. With help from his family, he reconstructed this traditional recipe with its characteristic flavour. Following the market launch in February 2014, his brother David officially joined the company.

Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin spans a flavour-packed bridge between East and West, stands for Dutch courage, and is enriched with Indonesian spirit. It is a fresh and spicy combination of juniper, fennel seeds, coriander and rose hips as well as lemongrass, cloves, cinnamon and cubeb pepper. Bobby’s Jenever combines lemongrass, ginger, cardamom, cubeb pepper with juniper and malt brandy as a bready, nutty base. Pinang Raci celebrates the traditional flavours of Ambon in a modern Schiedam Dry Gin, characterised by daun salam, turmeric and galangal, supported by ginger, sweet orange, cloves, cinnamon, lemongrass, cubeb pepper, coriander and juniper.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, there was Gold for Bobby’s Schiedam Jenever, and Silver for Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin and Bobby’s Schiedam Gin Pinang Raci.

Franz Tinnauer: Styrian superstar

The fruit distillery is a traditional, certified family business run by Franz Tinnauer along with his daughter, Monika. Margarete is the heart and soul of the residential buildings which nestle on the beautiful Mount Gamlitzberg. Following the motto “TASTEFUL. STYRIAN. STRONG”, distillation takes place entirely from the fruit itself and exclusively in a double distillation procedure to make the richest, fruit-concentrated distillates. In addition, only regional fruit varieties are processed, which mostly come from their own land – quality is, of course, the most important factor. As it is the understanding in the business that alcohol is a carrier for all aromas, all fine distillates contain over 40% alcohol by volume.

The high-proof distillate of approx. 80% alcohol by volume is stored for at least one year, and then there are five graduation levels: Classic – aromatic and very fruity as a clear distillate, at least one year old, at least 42% alcohol by volume; Reserve – at least two years old, at least 50% alcohol by volume; Reserve Zigarrenbrand cigar brandy – at least three years in French oak barrels, at least 50% alcohol by volume; Grand Reserve – special vintages, clear brandies, at least three years matured, cigar brandies stored in barrels at least five years, usually above 60% alcohol by volume. In the product range, which also includes liqueurs and spirits, there is something for every taste, be it mild, sweet or very strong.

The World Class Distillery 2022 OBB (Distillery of the Year – Silver) received double gold for Sauvignon Tresterbrand Reserve (marc brandy) and Zwetschken Zigarrenbrand Reserve (damson cigar brandy) (World Spirits Award 2022 & Spirit of the Year 2022), gold for Zwetschkenbrand (damson brandy), Roter Williamsbirnenbrand (pear brandy), Birnenquittenbrand Reserve (pear quince brandy) and Edelbitter ZITA, and silver for Wacholder Geist (juniper spirit).