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Fassbind – The spirit of five generations

Fassbind is the oldest distillery in Switzerland. Gottfried Fassbind I – a descendent of Dutch coopers who had immigrated to Switzerland in the 13th century – founded the ‘Alte Urschwyzer Brennerei’ distillery in the municipality of Oberarth, at the foot of the Rigi mountains in 1846. As long ago as 1856, Napoleon III, emperor of France, honoured the exceptional quality of the fruit distillates with a gold medal. The long tradition, combined with craftsmanship and innovation, is the basis of worldwide recognition.

The fruit brandies are produced by hand from Swiss fruits of the highest quality. Gently distilled, they mature in stainless steel tanks in the historic cellars, until the aroma has developed perfectly. The finest products from the most valuable fruits distilled in small quantities carry the title ‘Les Trouvailles’. The best brandies mature in wooden barrels for the ‘Les Fûts Uniques’ and ‘L’Héritage de Bois’ series. Each barrel is unique and gives the eau de vie its special character. The features such as bottle, cap, label and neck decoration come from the best manufacturers in Switzerland and Europe.

At the World Spirits Award, the Distillery won gold for Schwyzer Honig-Chrüter, Les Fûts Uniques Kirsch Port Cask, Vieille Prune Barrique, L'Héritage de Bois Poire Williams and Les Fûts Uniques Kirsch Umburana Cask. There was silver for Vieille Framboise Barrique, L'Héritage de Bois Prune and Vieille Poire Barrique.

Gurktaler: The mild Alpenkräuter

The Austrian herb spirit giant stands for the natural enjoyment of herbs from the Carinthian Gurktal valley. The Gurktaler Alps, containing some of the most scenic high valleys in the country, provide perfect conditions for cultivating herbs. Thanks to the addition of fresh herbs, Gurktaler distinguishes itself from other half bitters that are exclusively made from dried herbs. The selected alpine herbs from the Gurktal valley are preserved in alcohol at a precise ratio, as specified by a secret recipe. The ingredients and flavours are extracted from the herbs during the maceration process which takes place inside Gurk Cathedral. The resulting extract is then stored and allowed to continue to mature.

Thanks to its unique, delicately balanced composition of fresh herbs, ‘Gurktaler – der milde Alpenkräuter’ is especially mild, also because of its low alcohol content (only 27 percent by volume). The traditional Austrian product, created following traditional recipes, stands for first-class quality. Its distinctive array of aromas is reminiscent of gingerbread, thyme and lemon balm.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Gurktaler DER MILDE Alpenkräuter.

Berentzen Group: 250 years of cultured distilled spirits

The Berentzen Group is a diverse beverage company for spirits, alcohol-free beverages and fresh juices. With over 250 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.

The Burgmannshof Korn has been available since November 2020, which serves the ongoing trend of the premiumisation of the traditional Korn (grain distillate) segment. Distilled at their own Hof Destillerie in Haselünne in Lower Saxony from 100% wheat, it is stored for six months at the historical 14th century Burgmannshof in French oak barrels. An unmistakable signature also characterises the Edelkorn Vom alten Fass Hof Edition, a double-distilled Korn from mature grain.

The premium liqueurs also present the tradition of high-quality spirits: Landlikör Zwetschge (damson liqueur), refined with fruit brandy, is characterised by a balanced sweetness. Landlikör Haselnuss (hazelnut liqueur) brings together full-bodied hazelnut distillate and finely distilled wheat grain. For the Tres Países Port Cask Finish rum, distillates from Central America and the Caribbean mature for up to eight years in a tropical climate. After the perfect blending, it is refined for a further six months in old port barrels, resulting in a mild and highly complex rum – a sensual invitation to the Caribbean.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Burgmannshof Korn, Tres Países Port Cask Finish, Landlikör Haselnuss (hazelnut liqueur), Landlikör Zwetschge (damson liqueur) and Vom alten Fass Hof Edition, as well as bronze for Landlikör Birne (pear liqueur).

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.