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Breckenridge Distillery: Whiskey und mehr aus den Rocky Mountains

Bryan Nolt ist eigentlich Arzt – und Whiskey-Nerd: Im Jahr 2007 hatte ich die Idee, eine Brennerei in Colorado zu gründen. Mit dem Einsatz aller Ersparnisse und dem Verkauf unseres Hauses wagte ich einen kompletten Neuanfang. Heute können wir uns mit gutem Gewissen als erfolgreiche Brennerei betrachten, mit deinem tollen Team und der Hartnäckigkeit eines hungrigen Honigdachses. Und dem Riesenvorteil, einzigartiges, klares Wasser aus den Rocky Mountains für die Produktion nutzen zu können.“

Jordan Via, Master Distiller, bringt die Philosophie auf den Punkt: „Wir wollen hier nichts beweisen oder eine Show abziehen. Wir versuchen, klug und geschickt zu arbeiten, um einfach Qualität und Geschmack zu erzeugen. Während der Sommermonate pressen wir frisches Obst, bevorzugt aus der Region, für unsere Edelbrände, Liköre, Wodkas und Aromastoffe. Übers Jahr destillieren wir Botanicals und kümmern uns um Whiskey und Rum. Die Bourbon-Blends stellen wir in kleinen Chargen zusammen, dafür verwenden wir ausgewählte Fässer aus Kentucky, Tennessee und Indiana.“

Im Jahr 2016 wird die Brennerei erweitert, ein neues Fasslager eingerichtet, dazu kommen eine Cocktail-Bar, Veranstaltungsräume und ein kulinarischer Schwerpunkt zum Thema „Spirits an Food“. Darüber hinaus gibt es einen kleinen Laden in der Innenstadt von Breckenridge. Und kostenlose Brennereiführungen an sieben Tagen der Woche. Klingt eigentlich alles ganz einfach, um Erfolg zu haben, oder?

Beim World-Spirits Award gab es dreimal Gold (Breckenridge Chili Chile Vodka, Breckenridge Vodka, Breckenridge Bourbon) und zweimal Silver (Breckenridge Bitters, Spiced Rum).

Login Drinks: Sicilian impressions

The gin trio by Nicola Philipps was inspired by the little island of Salina, one of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily. It is world renowned for its caper fields bedded between high mountains and steep rocky coasts. The blossoms sleep during the day, but wake up after sunset. Reminders of this are captured in the gin with the name Caper Flowers – something special, because the hint of caper blossom brings an innovative idea into the world of gin. The second gin is dedicated to jasmine, which is in full blossom in the summer in Sicily, while the third is dedicated to juniper, which is part of the Mediterranean scene with its gentle acerbity. Everything else that goes into the gins of course remains a secret.

The botanicals from Salina were processed by the Moselle master distiller Hubertus Vallendar, who loves Italy just as much as Nicola. She compares his art of capturing nature and converting it into something magical and his fierce passion for the finest spirits with the fire of the volcano Stromboli. The elegant, transparent glass bottles with their colourful images of plants round off the fine presentation of the gin series. A real treat – whether pure, over ice or a very high-quality Mediterranean tonic water.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to LOGIN Caper Flowers and LOGIN with a hint of Jasmine, and silver to LOGIN with a taste of Juniper.

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).

Edward Snell – Whisky from South Africa

Edward Snell founded a trading company in Durban in 1848, from which the oldest spirit company in South Africa developed over 160 years. Following an eventful history, the company is now once again in the hands of the family. Besides their own brands they also sell numerous local and international drink brands, mostly in various markets in Africa and the Middle East.

The wide range of products includes whisky, brandy, vodka, rum, gin, tequila and cognac. One outstanding label is Firstwatch Whisky with its new look, a striking, square bottle design. Consumer demand for a whisky with an American taste profile has been perfected over time and is presented today as a balanced blend of the finest imported rye and grain. Whether pure, on the rocks or mixed – its diversity makes it popular with many different target groups and successful in one of the largest spirit segments in South Africa.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Firstwatch Whisky.