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Sash & Fritz – German vodka with a Russian soul

The ‘maker behind the brand’ is the well-known sommelier and wine merchant Peter Steger. During his more than 25 year-long career, he became interested in spirits and discovered his love of vodka – and so he formed the idea of creating an exclusive German vodka brand. Sash & Fritz combines Russian tradition with German precision and perfection. Only the best, carefully selected ingredients, such as 100% German wheat and clear spring water from the German Ore Mountains, are used in an elaborate production process (5 careful distillations and 5 gentle filterings) to create a manufactured vodka of the highest quality. The special, high quality flint glass bottle is particularly transparent and translucent, and was exclusively designed for the company.

The story behind the name: Sash stands for Alexander I Pavlovich Romanov, Emperor of Russia from 1801 to 1825, and Fritz for Frederick William III, King of Prussia from 1797. Theirs was a heartfelt friendship that lasted all their lives and went beyond the family relationship that existed between the Romanov and Hohenzollern families. The Russian Alexandrowka colony in Potsdam, which still exists today, dates back to the 1826 edict by King ‘Fritz’ on which it was founded in remembrance of his friend ‘Sash’ who had died a year before.

The concept bore fruit: the German vodka was awarded gold by the jury at the World Spirits Award.

Grenzwald-Destillation – Authenticity from the Ore Mountains

This small, family-run company in the German Ore Mountains specialises in herb liqueurs, herb spirits, fruit liqueurs and spirits. The history of the company dates back to 1882 when Emil Möckel purchased the head office building and opened a ‘manufactory of liqueurs and brandies’ as well as a wine merchant’s. On 20 October 1933, Otto Ficker (grandfather of the current director) acquired the shop and plot land. Despite many difficulties, the company continued to operate on a small scale until the fall of the Berlin Wall when Fritz Ficker and his son Peter started out afresh. Today they are proud of their successful “Craft Distillery for three generations”.

“In our company, we macerate, percolate and distil herbs, roots, fruits and blossoms following old traditions in copper vats. Over the last few years, our bottling and distillery plants have been modernised. This enables us to offer unusual products, especially for the catering industry. Our products have been given a new design and the product range has also been expanded. The schnapps museum at our headquarters demonstrates the historic production process. The atmosphere of this real herb distillation followed by a tasting session is a truly special experience.” Natural raw materials and the purest distillates guarantee top quality across the wide product range, which now comprises more than 40 high-quality products for the retail trade and catering sector.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Schwarzer Johannisbeer-Likör (blackcurrant liqueur) and Edel Destille Dry Gin No. I, and silver for Ingwer-Himbeer Spirituose (ginger raspberry spirit).

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 ‘func- tional 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.