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MattiE – Ellmauer Obstbrennerei: First-class distillery craftsmanship

Ellmauer Obstbrennerei is a Tyrolean family business that was handed over in 2009 from the Spielthenner-Walch family into the experienced hands of the Erber family, which has a long tradition of distilling dating back to 1909 in Brixen im Thale. After the external takeover, the talented distiller Matthias Erber moved to Ellmau in search of new challenges, where his fine skills are being put into practice.

The fourth and fifth generations work harmoniously together in the loving family business with the sole aim of producing high-quality distillates. Father and sons do everything they can to process only the finest fruit into fine brandies, because the essence is in the fruit, according to the distillery’s motto. Careful handling of raw materials and first-class mashing are the hallmarks of the Ellmauer Obstbrennerei. Whether handpicked sour cherries, Stanz plums, apricots, rowan berries or Gravensteiner apples: here you find everything your heart desires. In addition to fine brandies, schnapps and liqueurs, jams are prepared following traditional recipes.

On the one hand, inherited expertise meets acquired expertise in high-proof spirits. The trained brewer, maltster and distiller is the son of a famous autodidact in the world of spirits. On the other hand, a highly qualified producer meets a fully motivated distributor. Matthias is the doer, while Ramona is the hub of MattiE. The bonus for customers is that communication channels in a company could not be shorter.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, there was Gold for Williams Pear Brandy, Cherry Brandy and Sour Cherry Brandy, and Silver for Apricot Brandy, Red Williams Pear Brandy and Damson Brandy.

Arnold Dettling: The world of the cherry at its very best

In 1867, Franz-Xaver Dettling established a distillery in Brunnen on the shores of Lake Lucerne, devoted to the mountain cherries from Schwyz, and so, in 2017, the Dettling company celebrated its 150th anniversary. 25-year-old Arnold Dettling took over the business in 1909, which from then on carried his name. In 1991, they established ties with global players Underberg, also a family-owned company. In 2000, the distillery was brought up-to-date technically. The Dettling company is committed to the motto ‘only kirsch will do’. The greatest skill of distilling, as well as first-class, select raw materials, the expertly assisted fermentation pro-cess, and lots of love for detail are the foundations for the high-class distillates from Dettling.

Dettling is one of the leading kirsch producers in the world; they value their personal relationship with their cherry growers. The select fruits often come from only a few farms or even individual trees. Of the more than 800 cherry varieties, only about 40 are suitable for distilling. For one litre of kirsch, eight kilograms of cherries are needed. The mash is left to ferment in a rock cave. Afterwards, the brandies are stored in demi-johns or wooden casks. It is not just the classic cherry brandies which are in demand at Dettling – innovation is too.

The World Class Distillery 2019 OBB (Distillery of the Year 2019 – Gold) received double gold for Dettling Lau-erzer (Spirit of the Year 2019), Dettling Langstieler (Spirit of the Year & World Spirits Award 2019), gold for Dettling Wildkirsche (wild cherry), Dettling Holzfassgereift (matured in wooden casks), Dettling Vielle Kirsch, Dettling Kirschenlikör (cherry liqueur), Dettling Brandy and Réserve AOP Rigi Kirsch.