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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.

Edeldestillerie Robert Oberhofer: Quality and continuity

Gleaming steel tanks, a distinctive bottle design and a wide product selection – these all form part of this sophisticated distillery which is the empire of master distiller Robert Oberhofer, senior manager at the Reschenhof country hotel in Mils. Thanks to its reliable quality, the company, which already started out in 1965, has been one of the elite distillers in Tyrol for years.

All of the fruit varieties are predominantly obtained from local and organic cultivation areas. Apricots, Williams pears, various apple and damson varieties come from their own orchards, and the greatest attention is paid to quality, degree of ripeness and a rich aroma. The wide product range already encompasses more than 40 products.

The key products are fruit and berry brandies with speciality products including Limonera, sour cherry, sloe, blackberry and blueberry. Local favourites include rowanberry and elderberry. But also exotic fruit brandies such as rum, brandies and liqueurs matured in wooden casks are aged with the finest craftsmanship. Tours of the distillery can be enjoyed with a warm or cold snack or a rustic platter of cold cuts. The premises offer room for 50 people, and for celebrations of all kinds.

Since 2015, Robert’s grandson Benjamin, the third generation of distillers, has been managing the distillery. In order to satisfy the ever-increasing quality requirements, he decided to undergo the training to become a distiller at the Fritz Henßler vocational college in the city of Dortmund.

The Master Class Distillery received gold for Limonera Pear Brandy and Spänling (wild plum), silver for Williams Alte Reserve and Damson, and bronze for Rum (matured in wooden barrels), Babayani Raki and Raspberry Brandy.

Albert Büchele – Reliability, Vorarlberg-style

“We have been farmers for generations”, says Albert Büchele from the Michelehof, which has been based in Hard at Lake Constance since 1838. The name of the estate is based on the name Michael since his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were both called ‘Michel’. Today, the estate looks rather different with the focus being on fruit processing instead of animal husbandry and dairy farming. Plenty of input and commitment and a friendly sense of persistence regularly bring the highest possible accolades for this ‘stuff which dreams are made of’.

The diverse product range focuses on apples and pears and the fruit of the region – the Subirer pear – has become the company logo, based on the star-shaped flower of the fruit trees. Brandies full of character are made from the various types of stone fruits, berries and wild fruits and Albert Büchele has a particular passion for maturing distillates in wooden casks. A great deal of love and care has gone into the redesign of the building: since 2006, the architecturally successful structure has incorporated plenty of wood, solidity and style – not forgetting the expressive and well-balanced products made here. And little wonder, as harmony within the family and across the estate have long been the recipe for success. The future development of the Michelehof is certainly cause for great excitement.

The World Class Distillery 2017 received double gold for Cigar Cuvée, gold for Subirer Reserve, rose hip and grape brandy (barrel-aged), and silver for orange blossom muscatel brandy and damson brandy (barrel-aged).