World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

finch® Whiskydestillerie: Masterpieces from the high plateau of the Swabian Alps

Amidst unspoilt nature on the high plateau of the Swabian Alps, 700 metres above sea level, you can find one of the largest pot still distilleries in Germany, which produces 250,000 litres of whisky and 100,000 litres of other alcohol every year. The best ingredients come from their 350-hectare farm, where special grain varieties such as black emmer (also called the original grain), spelt, rye, barley, wheat and corn are grown. The unique natural landscape of the uplands with its special ecology and climate elicits exceptional qualities.

Hans-Gerhard Fink produced his first New Make in 1999. He is in charge of the entire production process which takes place on site. True to the maxim ‘From the field to the bottle’, finch® Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology and professional barrel management. Around 6,000 barrels in the whisky warehouse offer sensational combination and choice options, as well as the respective delivery readiness. In the meantime, 10 of the 14 whiskies are already eight, ten and even twelve years old, incomparable in Germany.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to finch® Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky DISTILLERSCHOICE Single Malt Sherry Cask and finch® Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky DISTILLERSCHOICE Barrique R, and silver to finch® Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky PRIVATEEDITION Single Malt 12 Years, finch® Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky DISTILLERSCHOICE Single Malt Smoky and finch® Schwäbischer Hochland Whisky PRIVATEEDITION WM Whisky 2022.

Georg Hemmeter – XUXU, Escorial, SILLA EL FUERTE

Georg Hemmeter – strawberry drinks with exceptional flavour guaranteed

The name Georg Hemmeter – a company of the Underberg Group – stands for innovative spirits, in particular the XUXU range. The fresh and fruity strawberry drink contains 66 percent fruit plus crystal-clear vodka, rounded off with a dash of lime. The harmony between the sweetness of the fruit and just 15% alcohol by volume is created using a special production method. XUXU Ten, the little luxury in a 250 ml aluminium bottle with only 10% alcohol by volume, is dressed to party – it is still relatively new to the market, yet is already at home in all the world’s top party venues.
XUXU can be served in so many different ways: chilled, neat, on crushed ice, as a dessert topping, with sparkling wine or with other mixers – XUXU tastes heavenly and offers fresh and fruity pleasure. Welcome to Berrydise!

Initially the absolute top star in Greece, XUXU is now also number 1 in Russia, and extremely popular in Turkey and Italy too.


XUXU Strawberry & Vodka Drink and XUXU Ten won Gold at the World Spirits Award 2014.

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.