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Liedschreiber Erdelbranddestillerie: A vocational passion

Andreas and Anna-Maria Liedschreiber both come from a farming background and have been running the farm with cattle, grassland, forest, alpine pastures and a distillery since 2003. The family has five daughters and one son. Andreas, a trained carpenter and master farmer, has been distilling using traditional methods in the farm’s own distillery since 1985. He has been a taster for sensory tests at the Weihenstephan University of Applied Sciences since 2000 and completed his training as a fine brandy sommelier in 2010. Anna-Maria, a master of home economics, specialises in liqueurs made from fruits and flowers and is also a fine brandy sommelier.

The distillery is located in the charming Alpine foothills near Lake Tegernsee. The Schafstatthof farm is not just a place of production, but an experience for all the senses. Every bottle tells a story – from carefully selected ingredients to masterful distillation. The high-quality specialities are matured to perfection in old earthenware barrels and are harmonised with their own mountain spring water. Visitors can learn more about the high-quality process from the fruit to the fine distillate and interesting facts about modern distillation technology on a public distillation tour (registration from ten people). Afterwards, there are tastings from the wide range of products, plus regional cheeses and fresh bread. For larger events (up to 80 people), the comfortably furnished ‘Destillenzi’ and a terrace with a view of the Alpine landscape are available.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, Gold was awarded to Schlehe-Brand (blackthorn brandy), Speierling-Brand (service tree brandy) and Herzbeere-Brand (guelder rose brandy), and Silver to Wildkirsche-Brand (wild cherry brandy).

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.

Family of Hounds – Sought and found

Andrea Frigerio and his English wife, Lina, live in Monaco with their two dogs, Spot and Magda, two wonderful additions to the family. Since they started taking the two for walks in town, they have made many new friends. Andrea and Lina used to be red wine drinkers, who spent their holidays in the wine hills of Italy and France. It was only in 2013, while visiting a country estate in England, that they discovered their love for a good G & T. This developed into a passion, and their discussions soon revolved around what it would be like to create their own gin.

They tasted intensively, discarded aromas they didn’t like, and extracted the aromas they did. Together with the master distiller in an old distillery in Piedmont, they created their recipe for the gin: juniper, lemon and orange peel, pink grapefruit, lavender, thyme, cardamom, ginger and coriander. The first three ingredients come from Italy, the rest from Asia. “The juniper is really loud, like a brightly lit disco floor, and the other botanicals dance around it. Together, they are like a lively, attention-seeking dog that can’t sit still.”

In the future, they are looking to establish a small family of spirits, from gin to vodka and from grappa to vermouth – unmistakable in taste, but accessible to everyone. The core of the philosophy is going out with good friends, enjoying a good meal and even better spirits. The first step has already been taken …

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Family of Hounds Gin.