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Klippenziege: New era in the world of gin

In December 2015, four friends captured the ‘spirit’ of an idea: they were thinking about gin. Nearly a year later a small batch was bottled by hand. The individuality of a gin lies in the combination of the botanicals, in this case it is the exotic selection: mate tea, goji berries, physalis and a hint of rose. The Klippenziege is a New Western Dry Gin, in which juniper plays the main role amongst the other botanicals.

It is produced in the Habbel Distillery, which guarantees excellent quality thanks to its experience – it was established in 1878 and is now in the family’s fourth generation. The former Korn distillery in Sprockhövel with adjoining farmland is now the largest fruit distillery in the Ruhr region, as a traditional manufacturer it stands out with its attention to detail. The entire manufacturing process at Klippenziege can also be observed on-site.

The bottle and the label are also special. Designer Levent Aydin drew it carefully by hand, and then digitalised it before perfecting it. First it is printed, then coated, then stamped and embossed. The elegant result stands for friendship, solidarity and love. Working together in a friendly and familiar atmosphere connects people with a passion for life who share one important belief: that the product should encourage people to slow down, allowing for mindful enjoyment.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Mate Dry Gin.

Berentzen Group: 260 years of cultured distilled spirits

Berentzen Group is an innovative beverage company that boasts a wide portfolio and develops, produces and markets varied and fashionable drinks concepts. The portfolio includes spirits, alcohol-free beverages and fresh juices. With over 260 years of experience, they are one of the oldest national manufacturers of spirits and have a market presence in over 60 countries to date, with brands such as Berentzen and Puschkin as well as reasonably priced private label products.

In April 2023, Norden Sea Salt Gin was launched on the German market under the Doornkaat brand. It is a speciality on the gin shelf, as selected North Sea botanicals create an extraordinary and intense taste experience: juniper provides the spice, sea buckthorn and rosehip the fruity tartness. Norden Sea Salt Gin is rounded off with a pinch of sea salt. This spirit spreads the genuine nature and authenticity of the North Sea coast throughout Germany. It is versatile and can be enjoyed neat, on ice or mixed as a long drink or cocktail.

Tres Países Premium Rum combines distillates from Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic. After being stored for up to eight years in American white oak bourbon casks, they come to Europe for refinement by the master blender. The characteristics of the countries provide the taste profile: vanilla and butterscotch, elegant fruit, banana and chocolate. It is also available in a port cask finish, which is refined in aged casks for another six months.

At the World Spirits Award 2026, there was Gold for Tres Países Premium Rum and Silver for Doornkaat Norden Sea Salt Gin.

Milano Dry Gin – As clear and structured as ice

Milan’s first real London Dry Gin has an unusual name: Giass – which means ice. Five friends who enjoy meeting up for an aperitif in the evening are behind it: Andrea and Simone Romiti, Richard D'Annunzio, Francesco Niutta and Francesco Braggiotti. The simple, time-honoured ritual is the same as the process that turns clear water into a structured block of ice – transparent and brilliant in its recurring irregularity. This idea would eventually lead to a very individual gin.

Within the framework of the EXPO 2015, Andrea and Simone worked on a project on wine, food and quality drinks. Richard, a passionate barman who likes to spend his time creating new drinks, joined them. For gin-based cocktails he turned his kitchen into a lab, the dishwasher became an improvised ‘distillery’, where he ‘brewed’ herb extracts in 30 minutes at 65 degrees. So the idea emerged to produce their own gin – and they bought a 3-litre distillation flask.

In search of the botanicals, the friends decided on 18 ingredients: juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, dried apple, dried orange peel, rose petals, camomile flowers, violet flowers, orange blossom, hibiscus flowers, ground almonds, mint leaves, fennel seeds, lemon verbena, cardamom seeds, lemon balm, cinnamon and thyme. The gin is sold in an elegant, screen printed bottle, inspired by the floors of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for London Dry Gin.

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.