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Limomacher: Regionally produced – socially labelled

Limomacher is a young Bregenz enterprise, according to their own definition “excellent in graphics, design, customer service, lemonade production, social involvement and coffee drinking”. However, a look at the brief biographies of the four-person team reveals quite a bit about their wide-ranging qualifications. All lemonades are produced regionally in Vorarlberg according to their own recipes. Short pathways right up until labelling – also labels for private customers and companies on request – reinforce sustainability, along with filling exclusively in glass bottles. The labelling, as well as the whole warehousing, are handled by Lebenshilfe Vorarlberg, a support organisation for people with disabilities. This is an indication that social thinking has been of great importance from the beginning.

At the beginning of 2018, the ‘Franz von Durst’ brand started in Spar shops, followed by the start-up shelf at Metro. The company developed a gin along with a tonic water for this purpose, as the first manufacturer in retailing that offers both as a one-stop shop. The gin that is also regionally produced goes perfectly with the tonic water and its animating and aromatic concept offers an exceptionally fruity drinking experience. Aside from the juniper base, five further botanicals play a role: angelica root provides a slight tanginess and supports the homogenous taste; orange peel is characterised by a range of aromatic substances and a fine hint of citrus; liquorice provides a complex sweetness with a slightly earthy note; elderberry has an intensive and refreshing taste; and hops gives it a special something.

“We are delighted that the Vorarlberg locals have received our gin so well and that we can expand step by step also into other provinces,” say the two young entrepreneurs.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was achieved by Franz von Durst Gin, and silver by Franz von Durst Dry Gin Wild.

Brennerei Ehringhausen: 700 years of tradition

The history of the Ehringhausen farm begins in 1237, at that time known as Haus Edrinchhausen. The traditional name, Erich, became the name of the farm, as well as the family’s surname and the name of the products. The Korn (grain distillate) distillery was founded in 1962. 30 years later an exceptional and, for its time ground-breaking, idea was born: to produce spirits organically, with spelt instead of wheat. In 2012, the siblings Theres and Georg Glitz-Ehringhausen took over their parents’ distillery and continued their handicraft in the third generation, creatively and in close contact with nature.

“For us, Korn is more than just a regional speciality. Korn is our inspiration! We look for the best organic ingredients and new recipes with unusual flavours with a Korn distillate base. We want to contribute to the production of high-quality, regional products and to give versatile Korn a new lease on life.”

The new wooden barrel collection has been named after their great-great-grandfather. Known for his extravagant ways and good taste, his nickname was ‘the little Lord’. Around 130 years ago, he was the first farmer in Ehringhausen to cultivate spelt and also planted an oak forest. The great-great-uncle’s herbarium became the source for aroma experiments that resulted in five gins. The base is a mild Korn distillate made from regional organic wheat.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Der Kleine Lord N° 6, Rye Whisky N° 2, Jos. Garden Dry Gin Blutorange (blood orange), Jos. Garden Red – Bitter Spritz Aperitif Liqueur, Classic Ladies Orangen Eier Crème (orange egg cream liqueur) and Classic Ladies Eier Creme Likör (egg cream liqueur), and silver for Dinkelkorn holzfassgelagert (spelt distillate matured in a wooden cask), Brennerei Ehringhausen Zitronengeist (lemon spirit) and Brennerei Ehringhausen Orangengeist (orange spirit

RhochzweiLiquids: Two master brewers from Ulm with gin in their sights

Korbinian Rau and Dominik Russ met in 2013 in the master school in Ulm. They then each went their own way, workwise, but in 2017 they found themselves working together in the same brewery. As a hobby they started to experiment with a small, homemade pot still. The results were sampled by friends and found to be rather drinkable. Their main profession as master brewers enabled the two of them to improve their distillates with creativity and passion, and so they decided to start up their own small company in February 2018.

RhochzweiLiquids Gbr was the beginning of turning their hobby into a side business. The sales figures are still small but are growing healthily – and the first product, Ulmer Ginger Gin, has received posi-tive feedback in the region. The gin stands out amongst the huge range because some of the ingredi-ents they use are ones you would expect to find in a brewery, and this appeals to the whole Ulm bar scene. Their aim is not to grow quickly, but rather to keep the hobby as such and to consistently guar-antee the highest quality with regional ingredients and passion.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Ulmer Ginger Gin and Ulmer Ginger Gin Winter Edition.