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Schwarze & Schlichte – Brand personalities from Westphalia

The family business Schwarze & Schlichte from Westphalia has been representing the highest quality spirits for the last 345 years with a distinct range of national specialities, regional traditional brands and successful international innovations. This top quality is based on a distilling tradition acquired over centuries which has been passed down over twelve generations. Even today, distilling and maceration still take place at the company’s own distillery where plenty of time and skill are invested. The selection and processing of the best raw materials and continuous control of the production process ensure a consistently high quality. One factor for success is the ongoing brand management in accordance with the specific requirements of the various brand personalities.

Three Sixty Vodka is one of the purest and mildest vodkas in the world. A fourfold distillation process ensures tangible softness and exceptional clarity while the purity of the vodka is all down to the time-consuming “Diamond Filtration” process: the finest filters are used, set with crystals like diamond dust, to remove even the smallest of suspended particles from the distillate. Even the packaging is unique: the facet-cut bottle of pure white shiny glass sets off this premium vodka to perfection. A black velvet label completes the sophisticated design.

The Grappa Bianca from Scavi & Ray is characterised by its full-bodied balanced flavour with powerful and intense aromas of marc. This crystal-clear brandy is soft and deliciously balanced thanks to the exquisite skill of the master distillery. The intense and fruity aroma is reminiscent of the sun-soaked vineyards in Italy.

Both products received a silver medal at the World-Spirits.

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.

Ironworks Distillery – Handmade in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is the second smallest province of Canada and is located on the Atlantic coast. In the historic port of Lunenburg – the home of the famous Bluenose schooner – Pierre Guevremont and Lynne MacKay founded their distillery in 2010. It is located in a small house dating from the 19th century, which previously housed a smithy, and because it has retained the character it carries the name ‘The Blacksmith’s Shop’. Where once ‘hardware’ was hammered for the Bluenose schooner, now vodka, gin, rum, brandy and liqueurs are produced in small batches. One speciality is Canada’s only vodka made from apples, but the bottled pears – 400 to 500 a year – also reflect commitment to the region.

Ironworks is a distillery with a clearly defined philosophy: ‘Made in Nova Scotia = Jobs in Nova Scotia’. The products are produced by hand from start to finish and personally monitored at every phase. Great value is attached to high quality ingredients from the region: apples, pears, berries, grapes or rhubarb, which come from their extensive partner network – and travel no more than 150 kilometres. The molasses for the rum is imported from Guatemala. The cellar has a capacity for 30,000 litres, and at the moment there are about 200 oak barrels stored there.

At the World Spirits Award, the handmade products were convincing: there was gold for Ironworks Apple Brandy and Ironworks Gin, silver for Ironworks Aged Pear, Ironworks Rum and Bluenose Rum.

Feinbrennerei Sasse: A pioneer of Korn distilling

Feinbrennerei Sasse perfectly combines the tradition of craftsmanship with the development of innovation. On the evening of St. Nicholas’ Day in 1987, Rüdiger Sasse held a bottle of Korn (grain distillate) in his hand, which his grandfather had distilled decades before. This moment was the inspiration for an idea that was to change the world of distilling, namely to redefine Korn as a high-quality spirit.

Sasse was the first distillery to recognise the potential of barrique ageing for Korn and perfected it. The resulting mild, golden Korn is a matured and complex grain distillate that no longer has anything in common with the simple ‘clear spirit’ produced long ago. Today, young and committed distillers continue the tradition, believe in regional raw materials, water from their own spring and organic ingredients. In Schöppingen, high-quality distillates are created with lots of passion and patience, handcrafted from the first ingredient through to the final bottling. This way, Feinbrennerei Sasse not only retains its history of almost 300 years but makes it shine again and again with new ideas.

The World Class Distillery 2025 was awarded Gold to Nju Korn Mild, Lagerkorn V.S.O.P., Nju Korn fruchtig, Nju Korn wuchtig, Lagerkorn Atlantic Finish, Cigar Special, Lagerkorn Rebellion, Heide Gin, Lagerkorn Good Luck Preussen and Limoncello.