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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.

Edelbrandmanufaktur Wilhelm Marx – Luxurious products from Gut Bärenhof

Deep in the Bavarian Forest lies the idyllic farm belonging to the Marx family. Only founded in 2012, the fine brandy manufacturer was able to establish itself in the expert world within a very short space of time. Wilhelm Marx, qualified fine brandy sommelier, has concentrated on innovative products, without neglecting regional classics – which have, of course, been newly interpreted. This means that rather unusual ingredients, such as ginger and lemongrass, stand alongside local strawberries, dried pears and dandelion petals. The secret of their success is easily explained: passionate handicraft, meticulous procedure and the will to experiment.

As a passionate connoisseur, Wilhelm Marx, together with his wife Birgit, has achieved his dream: delicious distillates with natural ingredients, without flavourings, colourings or preservatives. Since August 2017, the products have been certified as ecological products and thus ‘ORGANIC’ according to the Council Regulation on organic production.

The Gut Bärenhof farm itself is a natural oasis, which could hardly be more beautiful. It provides ripe fruits such as quince, rosehip, sloe and elderberry, which are carefully processed by hand in small batches. Even the fresh ginger from Asia is peeled by hand and carefully processed.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Sicilian Organic Blood Orange, gold for Coffee Spirit and GIN BayernDry, silver for Organic Wild Raspberry, Hierbas del Bávaro Bosque, Blackcurrant, Elderberry, Organic Wild Blueberry, GIN infused by Elderflower, Espresso Liqueur and GINGERLIQ, and bronze for Artichoke Bitter and Genziana d‘Oro.