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Braunstein - Micro Whisky from Denmark

Denmark’s first ‘micro-distillery’ was built in an existing brewery in Køge to the south of Copenhagen. The first whisky barrel was filled in 2007 and since then, some 50,000 litres per year have been produced. The first sales of malt whisky from the new distillery took place on 22nd March 2010 across Denmark, marking the start of a new Danish whisky tradition.
When it comes to getting the right ingredients, facilities and production, the owners are not willing to compromise. However, this is not enough to simply produce exceptional whisky. The key issue for the end product are the oak barrels in which the whisky matures and gets its colour. Being a microdistillery with the necessary resources at its disposal makes it possible to select only the best barrels to mature the ‘fruity new make spirit’.
The limited production also makes it possible to observe the development of each individual cask month by month to ensure that only exclusive whisky series are bottled. These are known as the ‘Library Collection’ and are deliberately unique and only available in limited quantities on the market.

Quality, not quantity – the small range of spirits was honoured at the World Spirits Award for this, and received double gold for Braunstein Edition 7 and Braunstein 15:2 (Spirit of the Year 2016), gold for Danica Gin and Danica Vodka, as well as silver for Braunstein 15:1.

Feinbrennerei Sasse: A pioneer of Korn distilling

Feinbrennerei Sasse perfectly combines the tradition of craftsmanship with the development of innovation. On the evening of St. Nicholas’ Day in 1987, Rüdiger Sasse held a bottle of Korn (grain distillate) in his hand, which his grandfather had distilled decades before. This moment was the inspiration for an idea that was to change the world of distilling, namely to redefine Korn as a high-quality spirit.

Sasse was the first distillery to recognise the potential of barrique ageing for Korn and perfected it. The resulting mild, golden Korn is a matured and complex grain distillate that no longer has anything in common with the simple ‘clear spirit’ produced long ago. Today, young and committed distillers continue the tradition, believe in regional raw materials, water from their own spring and organic ingredients. In Schöppingen, high-quality distillates are created with lots of passion and patience, handcrafted from the first ingredient through to the final bottling. This way, Feinbrennerei Sasse not only retains its history of almost 300 years but makes it shine again and again with new ideas.

The World Class Distillery 2025 was awarded Gold to Nju Korn Mild, Lagerkorn V.S.O.P., Nju Korn fruchtig, Nju Korn wuchtig, Lagerkorn Atlantic Finish, Cigar Special, Lagerkorn Rebellion, Heide Gin, Lagerkorn Good Luck Preussen and Limoncello.

2B Hemp Gin: Styrian gin experience

Two visionaries, Armin Breinl (doctor, drink creator, musician) and Wolfgang Thomann (gin maker), have created a completely new gin experience with real hemp powder: 2B HEMP GIN (inspired by AEIJST). On 17th November 2018, the two invited guests to the first tasting of 2B HEMP GIN in the AEIJST GIN distillery in St. Nikolai in the Sausal Valley.

Made from organic juniper berries, this innovative gin has an impressive, mild and fruity taste and a typical hemp note. Due to its unique aroma, it not only tastes good neat, but also creates a ‘wow’ effect in cocktails – as proven in the long drink Styrian Pale Gin AEIJST refined with 2B HEMP.

For thousands of years, hemp has been grown as a valuable plant, be it for rope, fabric, paper or as an active ingredient in ointments and tinctures. Hemp has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, yet recently has been demonised as an addictive drug and has suffered under its ensuing prohibition, originating in the USA. These days hemp is regaining importance and is being used more as a luxury food as well as in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The Lifestyle Trading company, run by Armin Breinl, is an innovative beverage producer, which is already known amongst trade professionals for its sugar-free ‘func- tional fruit drinks’. The drinks have a high fruit content (more than 50 per cent) and additional natural, vital substances and have an energising, relaxing and regenerative effect.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for 2B HEMP GIN.