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Bimmerle: Know-how meets regionality and trend awareness

At the production site in the Black Forest town of Sasbach, which was opened in 2015, this family business sets innovative standards in technology, sustainability and environmental protection. For the last five decades, Bimmerle has strived for the highest quality, with focussed know-how, modern high-tech and the traditional art of distilling. This is the first distillery in Germany where all the heating requirements and power generation are covered by the burning of fruit stones combined with woodchips from the region.

In Germany and on the European market, Bimmerle is a leader in the fruit brandies sector with the Lörch brand. In order to make the ‘playground’ more interesting, the brand identity was modernised in 2024 and will be extended in 2025 by a fruit brandy range matured in wooden casks. Needle Black Forest Gin is among the top 5 most widely sold gins in Germany. The portfolio has been expanded since 2018 with WOOD STORK Spiced Rum and the EVERMANN Black Forest whiskies Theo & Wilhelm introduced in 2022. The Black Forest distillery has enriched the liqueur and aperitif market with as many as five exciting creations under the DON PASQUALE brand.

The World Class Distillery 2025 & Distillery of the Year 2025 – Bronze (Bitters & Liqueurs) received Gold for Don Pasquale Limoncello Liqueur, Zünftler Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Wood Stork Spiced Rum, Lörch Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Lörch Vanillekipferl Sahnelikör (vanilla cream liqueur), Needle Gin Green, Don Pasquale Aperitif Bitter Liqueur, Don Pasquale Espresso Martini Liqueur, Don Pasquale Hazelnut Liqueur and Lörch Linzertorte Sahnelikör (Linzer tart cream liqueur). Silver was awarded to Kronenhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Zinselhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Altes Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser (damson spirit), Needle Blackforest Distilled Dry Gin, Needle Gin Rosé, Don Pasquale Pistachio Cream Liqueur, Lörch Bratapfel Sahnelikör (baked apple cream liqueur), Zünftler Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Lörch Williams Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (pear spirit aged in a wooden cask) and Lörch Marille Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (apricot spirit aged in a wooden cask), and Bronze to Lörch Obst Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (fruit spirit aged in a wooden cask).

Roner: Most awarded distillery in Italy

In the year 1946, Gottfried Roner laid the foundation stone for the family enterprise that has been dedicated to the art of distilling for three generations. The distillery based in Tramin on the wine route is South Tyrol’s top address when it comes to fruit distillates, grappa, liqueurs, gin and more in the highest quality, as well as being the most awarded distillery in Italy. The extensive range includes over 80 products. First-class fruits and marc from South Tyrol and the environs serve as a basis. With a fine touch, commitment and ambition to achieve the best at all times, they bring together the aroma and taste of the raw ingredients expressively in the bottle.

A milestone in the company history was the inauguration of the innovative vacuum pot still ‘Luisa’ in 2018, named after the wife of the company founder. This pot still unique throughout Italy is a homage to the art of distilling and a glimpse into the future. Visitors can appreciate its beauty on a guided tour and sample a pear brandy made according to traditional procedures. The brandy filled into a copper-coloured bottle delights connoisseurs and enthusiasts with its gentle and refined taste, reflecting traditions and modernity.

Classified as World Class Distillery 2026, they received Gold for Waldhimbeere Raritas (wild raspberry), Caldiff 80 Special Edition and Muskatella Raritas, Silver for Wilhelmine Gran Cru, Quitte Raritas (quince) and Marille Raritas (apricot) at the World Spirits Award.

Destillerie Kammer-Kirsch: Specialities from the Black Forest

The Kammer-Kirsch Distillery originated in a testing and training distillery in Baden, with the aim of positioning the Black Forest Kirschwasser on the market as a new quality product. In 2012, the 100th birthday of this speciality was celebrated in Karlsruhe.

In 2020, the gourmet series was relaunched with barrel-stored fruit brandies. In addition, there is Black Forest Dry Gin which follows a recipe from the 1950s. A speciality of the product range is the Squamata vodka made from apples. Black Forest App is distilled according to a gin procedure based on an apple brandy with berries and botanicals.

Black Forest Rothaus Single Malt Whisky led Kammer-Kirsch to be distinguished as ‘Germany’s Best Whisky Distillery’ in 2011, 2012, and 2015. The special editions are also excellent; in 2019, they released a Highland Cask aged at 1,000 metres above sea level in Black Forest oak casks. In 2020, Chardonnay Cask Finish and the first ten-year-old Black Forest Rothaus Single Malt followed. Pinot Noir Cask was added in 2022, from Pinot Noir casks of the Franz Keller winery. In 2023, the special editions Amarone Cask and Peated Cask Finish were launched, a rum and a brandy called Craftwork from different types of wooden barrels, as well as a herb liqueur. In 2019, for the first time, a new whisky of the Bird of Prey brand was created in cooperation with Bauernkirsch GmbH from Baden. Together, they developed a malt whisky, which was launched under the brand family of Black Forêt, in 2023.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Black Forest Rothaus Single Malt Whisky Amarone Cask and Craftwork Herb Liqueur, and silver for Black Forêt Malt Whisky.