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Edgar Wernbacher – Authenticity from Hochsteiermark

For over 65 years, the Wernbacher family business has been known for stylish, traditional costume fashion. This means the best quality of materials and high-quality workmanship just as much as the love of tradition and its modern interpretation. This philosophy also applies to the distillery. “My grandfather was a connoisseur, and I also became a gourmet. A few years ago, my dreams came true with the opening of the new traditional costume shop and distillery. With the traditional costumes, our company is based on tradition, honesty, consistency and living handicrafts, and that is also reflected in our fine brandies. The time is right for honest and authentic concepts and products.”

The raw materials largely originate from the region: “Waldheimat – Semmering – Veitsch” which is how the easternmost area of Hochsteiermark is known. Fresh fruit is sorted by hand, cooled and prepared for the mash. Free from additives or sugar, distillation is carried out according to traditional double distilling methods in copper boilers. The resulting products have an unmistakable, genuine fruity character. The new product is Gin Bumm, which carries the ‘emblem’ of the company on its label – the stone sheep ram Ötzi. The idea arose during a gin tasting in London, and the final result is a very clear, high-quality London Dry Gin. Among the 13 botanicals, lavender, citrus and wild fennel determine the taste as well as juniper berries.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Rosenapfel (apple), Der Nimbus Apfel Cuvée (apple), Der Mythos Obst Cuvée (fruits), Schafnase Apfel (apple), and silver for Edgar’s Gin Bumm and red Williams pear.

Kafi Liqueur: Exotic and refreshing

It happened in the kitchen of the restaurant in which Sem Vermeulen was working as an apprentice chef. His tasks included cleaning the freezer. Right at the back, covered with a white layer of snow, he spotted a kaffir lime. The fresh fragrance alone inspired the idea of making a liqueur out of it. However, some years were to pass from the coincidental find to the right recipe, with a whole host of experiments. In one’s youth, of course, one neither has the budget nor the means to acquire the best equipment. This led to a partnership with Toorank International Spirits in the Netherlands, a well-known craft distiller with over 40 years of experience, offering numerous trade brands alongside their own.

Kafi was conceived by a young team that is not afraid to be different from what the market is accustomed to or demands. Their forward-looking vision aims towards new taste trends for the drinks industry and Kafi is just the beginning. It started modestly with a batch of 5,000 bottles and has only been on the Dutch market since the end of August 2021. It is made with the greatest care, from the selection of the best products to the design of the bottle. The result: something refreshing, new, and surprising. A liqueur that is not disguised with sugar but presents itself as an exotic delicacy: with fresh tartness, pleasant sweetness and subtle bitterness. Kafi is also popular among cooks and bartenders, ideal for cocktails such as Mojito, combined with ceviche or for a delicious lemon tart – the possibilities abound.

At the World Spirits Award, Kafi Liqueur was awarded silver.

Clint Wilfred & Sons – Good taste for rapidly expanding markets

Clint Wilfred & Sons Ltd brings a carefully selected portfolio of drinks to the Gulf region and Southeast Asia. The young company targets fast-moving products in the HORECA – Hotel/Restaurant/Café and Hotel/Restaurant/Catering market segment. It is run by Clint Wilfred, whose family has been in the spirit production and distribution business for over four decades.

One main focus of business activities lies in the United Arab Emirates. To offer new products on this rapidly growing market is a great challenge, as the demand for premium and niche products is constantly increasing and customers’ wishes are very diverse. The range, therefore, also includes non-alcoholic and carbonated soft drinks, still and sparkling water, ready-to-drink teas, energy sport drinks and other New Age drinks. There is also a strong focus on a wide selection of packaging sizes and formats.

One special product in the spirits product category is Count Cristo Blended Scotch Whisky, a premium blend with a high malt content from the Scottish Speyside region and with some lowland malt for added depth and character.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Count Cristo Blended Scotch Whisky.

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).