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Kweichow Moutai: China’s ‘national schnapps’ on the rise

Baijiu is the most popular alcoholic drink in China and Moutai the most famous brand, with a similar status to vodka in Russia or tequila in Mexico. Its origins go back over 2,000 years to the time of Emperor Wu of Han. These days, the national drink is frequently served at official state banquets and is used as the official state gift. Its protected source is the village of Maotai in the Guizhou province on the banks of the Chishui, the Red River. These days, more than 30,000 tons of the 53 percent alcohol Moutai are produced. In cooperation with Camus, a limited edition was launched as an homage to the greatest poets: after Li Bai in 2013, Du Fu followed in 2018. The elegant bottle showing a painting of a poem is made from the finest porcelain.

Traditional methods are used for the distillation of regional raw materials: organic sorghum and wheat and the best water. Fermentation takes place at high temperatures. During the production process, which takes a year, fresh grain is added twice to the boilers, then several boiling and fermentation processes take place. Every batch of the distillate is separated according to age, production cycle and aroma. It then matures slowly in terracotta containers and, during the storage period of at least five years, develops a fine soya aroma. Master blenders make sure that the characteristic, full flavour is preserved. The secret lies in the humid climate, the water from the Chishui, as well as in the distillation technique and maturing period.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Kweichou Moutai Du Fu Edition.

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).

Christoph Kössler – Perfection, profile and personality

He is always among the best when it comes to distillate ratings and has been confirming his consistency for many years at the World Spirits Award. He achieves perfection in the ‘interplay with temperatures’ – from the fermentation of the mash in the stainless steel tanks to distillation using the most advanced technical methods. And all this takes place in exceptional surroundings: Christoph Kössler works and lives with his family in the house where famous Baroque master builder Jakob Prandtauer was born. The old building has been carefully preserved and the interiors adjusted to the requirements of a modern company. The initials ‘JP’ on the bottles are a clear link to the tradition of the company.

The friendly distiller from Tyrol manufactures over 40 products covering all fruit varieties, as well as 10 liqueurs. When asked for the secret of his many years of success, he simply says: “Like fruit, like spirit.” The broad range of exclusive spirits with refined flavours proves him right: the range extends from apples, pears and berries to grapes, wild fruit and plums, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes and beer.

Since 1450, damsons have been farmed in the Alpine village of Stanz near Landeck in Tyrol, Europe’s highest fruit growing region. In 2005, a so-called ‘indulgence region’ was created in honour of the local damsons. The community has somewhat more than 650 inhabitants, approx.150 households and 54 distilleries where 90 distillers produce all kinds of quality brandies. This density alone warrants the name of ‘distillery village’.

The company’s ongoing quality strategy bore fruit yet again at the World Spirits Award with classification as a World Class Distillery 2013 and gold for the Spenling plum, red Williams pear, bock beer, Bier Eichenfass (oak barrel beer) and Gerste Eiche (oak barley) and silver for the cherry.

Euphoria: Rediscovery of an inspiring drink

After being hidden for more than a century, a very old recipe has once again come to light: Artista has been reborn. The unusual story behind it starts in a dark attic, with a yellowed sheet of paper as the guardian of a secret: a bitter drink with an old-fashioned taste, referred to as the ‘quintessence of creativity’. The legend tells of painters, musicians and poets from the old continent, who enjoyed a mysterious, amber-coloured elixir in Livorno that was able to bring their most inspired works to life – somewhere between a meeting at a literary café and a walk along the famous coast of this exceptional town. Freed from taxes and other duties, it was populated by merchants, artists and seafarers of various cultures and origins. It was a port of people and goods, and a crossroads for ideas in particular, which was able to inspire many – even if they were just passing through.

Selected according to the old original recipe, the ingredients were rediscovered and reworked in the search for an elegant and enticing taste. 33 herbs, spices and extracts are traditionally processed to create an exclusive and absolutely timeless bitter. The result is an amber-coloured liqueur boasting a hint of aromatic lemon and a sweet and delicate lasting taste.

Amaro Artista achieved gold at the World Spirits Award.