World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

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.

Brennerei Penth: Ideas for schnapps from Saarland

The distillery is located in the heart of Saarland, in the small village of Landsweiler in Lebach, where the Penth family have dedicated themselves to the craft of distillation since 1959. In the family tradition, master distiller and juice maker, Franz Penth, runs the business that he took over from his father in 1981. He gained his master craftsman’s certificate in Berlin, but never had special training: “I was only eight years old and I was already watching my father distilling and helping out!”

The fruit harvest means high season at the Penth Distillery: every day, mirabelle plums, damsons, apples, quinces and other fruit are delivered. Year in, year out, the still is filled up to 1,000 times, whereby about 100 tonnes of fruit yield 15,000 litres of schnapps. In his many years of experience, Franz Penth has also filled the still 1,700 times and, when the harvest was bad, only 100 times. As a speciality of the house, the products are filled into gift bottles and exquisite, decorative bottles – also bespoke ones – which are sourced from glassblowing workshop all over Germany. And so, individual customer requests for custom-made bottles for companies and clubs can be met. Aside from the classic product range of brandies, spirits and liqueurs, over recent years new products such as Agnes’ Green Dry Gin and Pastis Bernard have been developed.

The Master Class Distillery 2019 received gold for Rosehip Brandy, Pear Brandy, and silver for Agnes’ Green Dry Gin, Pastis Bernard, cask-aged Apple Brandy, Organic Riesling Grape Brandy and Mirabelle Plum Brandy.

Brewstillery: Courageous spirit for the craft beer lover

The history of this brewery is based on the dedication and inspired vision of three masters: a Danish brewer, a French recipe ‘inventor’ and a distiller from Vietnam. Thomas Bilgram, a full-bearded non-conformist with a touch of madness about him, is the co-founder and brew master extraordinaire at Furbrew Craft Beer and the man responsible for the mash from which the Brewstillery’s Mashed Up Craft Gin is made. His partner Laurent Severac, a hunter of aromas and a scent seeker, has dedicated himself to the discovery of rare plants and spices in recent decades in Vietnam and Laos.

Their skills and expertise complement each other perfectly, as well as the ingredients of the gin that they have created together: double distilled and carefully checked, limited batches of a smooth gin with complex hints of malt, distinctive botanical aromas and a hint of lemon zest. It is the first craft gin in the world made from craft beer. An awareness of sustainability and upcycling is at the heart of their philosophy and determines all their decisions and actions. There is an ongoing search for innovative ways to give waste a new value.