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Aldi Ireland: Gin and whiskey in retail

Aldi Ireland has several top products in its spirit range: Boyle’s Gin from the Blackwater Distillery and Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery, in addition, Mo Chara Passionfruit & Mango Gin from the Old Carrick Mill.

The Blackwater Distillery has been an Aldi partner since 2016 and developed the private label Boyle’s Gin exclusively for the Irish and British retail market. The product volume of the Blackwater Distillery for Aldi has risen strongly in recent years, whereby 140,800 bottles of the gin series were sold in 2018. The successful gin brand is manufactured in Blackwater Valley, West Waterford, with selected imported ingredients as well as regional apples, blackcurrants and elderflower. CEO Peter Mulryan – former TV producer and author of the book ‘The Whiskeys of Ireland’ – explains, “The partnership with Aldi has helped us to increase turnover enormously, and also to have the security to invest and expand. This includes on-site bottling facilities and a visitor centre.” Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery got its name from the region in County Cork where the malted barley comes from, and is only manufactured in small batches. The business was founded in 2003 by childhood friends who started out with only two small stills they had bought in Switzerland. Now the largest distillery in the country, it currently employs over 80 staff and exports to around 70 countries.

At the World Spirits Award, there was Gold for Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey and Boyle’s Gin, and Silver for Boyle’s Sloe & Damson Gin and Ardfallen Whiskey.

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).

John Dewar & Sons: Dewar’s true scotch since 1846

John Dewar & Sons Ltd was founded by John Dewar in 1846 and has developed from being a small wine and spirit dealer in Perth, Scotland, to becoming a global brand name, known for its high-quality whiskies and a feeling for modern marketing and creative advertising.

John Dewar’s dynamic sons, John Alexander and Tommy Dewar, turned Dewar’s into an international success. In 1898, the brothers also founded the Aberfeldy Distillery, the physical and spiritual home of Dewar’s, which still produces the single malt whisky, the ‘heart’ of each blend, today. This full-bodied single malt stands out with its rich notes of heather and honey, which can be found throughout the current range.

This tireless pursuit of quality and the great passion for excellent, balanced blends still remain. These days, the company is a global leader and Dewar’s is one of the fastest growing premium whiskies in the world – and, thanks to the great skill of the master blenders, also one of the scotches with the most awards in the world. The proven basis of the comprehensive portfolio is White Label®, produced for the first time in 1899.

The World Class Distillery 2020 received gold for Dewar’s White Label, Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky 25 Years The Signature, Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky 15 Years, Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky 18 Years and Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years.

Sláinte Irish Whiskey: Brand with a charity background

The founders of Sláinte Irish Whiskey include Liev Schreiber, an American actor and director, as well as ambassador and shareholder of Sláinte™ Irish Whiskey. In September 2022, he introduced a new premium Irish whiskey brand, with which money is collected for Blue Check. This is a collective that Schreiber co-founded which consists of experts for humanitarian crisis responses, entrepreneurs and filmmakers concerned with the needs of people affected by conflicts and who document solidarity movements against oppression.

The result is a whiskey in cooperation with the industry expert Richard Davies. The involvement of Liev Schreiber is an opportunity for the brand to establish itself quickly as a premium Irish whiskey. “This brand started promisingly with an act of charity. The barrel with old single malt donated to Richard was completely unexpected and hopefully the start of something we will do for many years.”

The unique, mild Sláinte Irish Whiskey Smooth Blend (slightly sweetish grain and dry single malt) was developed by the renowned master distiller Brian Watts and distilled three times on the Green Island in County Louth, matured in American bourbon oak barrels and finished in sherry barrels.

The name Sláinte® (pronounced SLAHN-CHA) is also a wonderful Gaelic expression, used as a toast – and means nothing other than cheers!

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Sláinte Irish Whiskey Smooth Blend.