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Seyringer Schlossbrände – Long-standing Austrian schnapps culture

According to the motto of Seyringer Schlossbrände, things which have always been good still taste excellent today. The “good old days” are being brought back to life through the product accessories. The company’s brand image was carefully revised in 2006, taking account of its historical aspect. The new features include a special bottle with a handle, exclusively crafted for the company on the basis of a design that is more than 150 years old. With bottle sizes of 0.5, 0.2 and “handy” 0.04 litres, many needs are met.

Seyringer Schlossbrände products combine tradition and taste. Prepared on the basis of traditional rules of the art of distilling, the specialities embody both the past and the future. With their reference to the imperial history – “kaiserlich-königliche Schnaps-Kultur” – and the respective design, Seyringer Schlossbrände’s market presence is bound to be a success. The brand’s symbolism convinces in a variety of different uses – such as the design of small souvenirs or special promotions in the retail trade.

Seyring Castle, in imperial times a country estate, lends its name to the eponymous castle spirits, representing a part of the Austrian spirits culture. The broad range of products comprises traditional Austrian fruit spirits, fruit schnapps and fruit liqueurs, such as Williams pear, apricot, plum, cherry, raspberry, “Obstler” (mixed fruit schnapps) and gentian spirits. Liqueurs on a fruit juice and fruit distillate basis made according to ancient recipes represent an innovation.

The classics – Jagatee (tea with schnapps), apricot liqueur and gentian were all awarded gold at the World-Spirits Award, and the cherry liqueur received a silver. There were also three golds in the fruit spirits category.

Hofbrennerei Oberkorb: Fine brandies with terroir character

Andreas Franzl’s small farm distillery is located some 60 kilometres east of Munich in the district of Erding. He produces a limited range of products totalling just 1,200 bottles each year, although these are made from pure fruit. The sandy, loamy soils of the hilly landscapes to the south of the Danube are ideal for growing fruit. Orchards made up of semi-wild trees produce a wide range of very fla-vourful fruit varieties. The untreated fruits stay on the tree until they are fully ripened before being used to create these brandies which are full of character. Another speciality of the distillery are pure distillates made from rare, partly poisonous fruits such as danewort and cranberry bush, which are fascinating, with a fantastic aroma and a complex density.

Andreas Franzl is trained as a cheese-maker and he is also a qualified agriculturist and an expert on spirits (‘Master of World Spirits’). He lives and works by his motto which makes him very likeable: approach goals consistently but do not overshoot the target. “Our farm was founded more than 400 years ago and has been in our close family for more than ten generations. This perseverance reflects courage, openness and vision. And we would like to pass this commitment on.” Regular training ses-sions and courses on the culture of distilling are held at the distillery and adjoining ‘ACAdeVIE’. An-dreas Franzl, appointed fine brandy sommelier h. c., also works at the Bayerische Genussakademie in Kulmbach as a lecturer in brandy and spices sommelier studies.

The World Class Distillery 2019 received gold for Blackcurrant, Forest Elderberry and Service Tree Fruit Brandy, and silver for Quitte Edeldestillat (quince) and Mirabelle Plum.

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 ‘functional 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.