World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Brennerei Ehringhausen: 700 Jahre Tradition

Die Geschichte des Hofes Ehringhausen beginnt 1237, erwähnt als Haus Edrinchhausen. Ein alter Personenname, Erich, wird zum Hofnamen, Familiennamen und Namen der Produkte. Die Kornbrennerei wurde 1962 gegründet. 30 Jahre später kam es zur wegweisenden, damals außergewöhnlichen Idee: Spirituosen auf biologischer Basis zu erzeugen, mit Dinkel anstelle von Weizen. 2012 übernahmen die Geschwister Theres und Georg Glitz-Ehringhausen die elterliche Brennerei und führen das Handwerk kreativ und naturverbunden in dritter Generation fort.

„Korn ist für uns mehr als eine regionale Spezialität. Korn ist unsere Inspiration! Wir suchen beste ökologische Zutaten und neue Rezepturen mit ungewöhnlichen Geschmacksrichtungen auf Kornbrandbasis. Wir möchten unseren Teil zur Herstellung hochwertiger regionaler Produkte beitragen und dem vielseitigen Korn wieder frischen Wind einhauchen.“

Die neue Holzfasskollektion wurde nach dem Ururgroßvater benannt. Bekannt für seine extravagante Art und den guten Geschmack, wurde er „der kleine Lord“ genannt. Er baute vor rund 130 Jahren als erster Ehringhauser Bauer Dinkel an und pflanzte einen Eichenwald. Das Herbarium des Urgroßonkels wurde zur Quelle für Aromenexperimente, entstanden sind fünf Gins. Basis ist milder Kornfeinbrand aus regionalem Bioweizen.

Beim World-Spirits Award gab es Gold für Der Kleine Lord N° 6, Rye Whisky N° 2, Jos. Garden Dry Gin Blutorange, Jos. Garden Red – Bitter Spritz Aperitif Likör, Classic Ladies Orangen Eier Crème und Classic Ladies Eier Creme Likör, Silver für Dinkelkorn holzfassgelagert, Brennerei Ehringhausen Zitronengeist und Brennerei Ehringhausen Orangengeist.

Hofbrennerei Oberkorb: Pure brandies exclusively

Andreas Franzl’s small farm distillery is located between Munich and Mühldorf near Dorfen. He picks wild fruits and the best fruit from the region’s meadow orchards with trees of over 100 years of age to create the basis for highly aromatic fruit brandies with a terroir character. Only pure brandies emerge from the farm distillery. They are of incomparable elegance and owe their depth and harmony to over 20 years of maturation in some cases. Flagship products include old varieties of apple and pear, European wild plum and quince, complemented by brandies made from extremely rare fruits such as danewort, guelder rose or red elderberry. The brandies are long established in the top restaurants of Bavaria and beyond.

Andreas Franzl, Master of World Spirits and brandy sommelier h.c., can draw on the tradition of a wonderful farm with over 400 years of history. He has shown courage, openness and foresight regarding the status and value of pure fruit brandies in the spirits industry. More than 800 distillers from all over Europe have now completed his distilling and sensory courses. He is an advisory board member and lecturer for sensory analysis at the Genussakademie Bayern in Kulmbach, and is heavily involved in the conception and implementation of the fine brandy sommelier qualification. With his son Georg, a budding Master of World Spirits, the next generation is already on board to lead the distillery into the future with its famed consistency of quality.

The World Class Distillery 2024 (DoY Gold & Award) received double gold for Forest Elderberry, gold for Blackcurrant and Danewort Sambucus Ebulus, and silver for Cherry Brandy and Red Vineyard Peach/German Blood Peach.

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.

Prevelon: Premium vodka by order of the Kremlin

Kremlin Premium Vodka was created as the official drink for all diplomatic receptions and banquets at the Kremlin and was intended as the hallmark of high-ranking events. The decision in favour of the most traditional Russian drink was unanimous. It was only produced on special order and in limited amounts. The first large batch of this ‘protocol’ vodka was ordered in February 1945 for the Yalta Conference. Kremlin Award Grand Premium came on the market in 2011 and is exported to 38 countries, and in many of them it holds the top position in the ultra-premium vodka category. Since 2016, the product range has included Kremlin Award Classic, which enjoys great popularity amongst all partners.

Two products have been added to the product range. Kremlin Award Organic is based on alcohol that is produced from the highest quality organic wheat, and on natural drinking water. The vodka passes through a multi-stage purification through pure birchwood charcoal. The alcohol for Kremlin Award Vintage is made from organic grains from the same harvest. The wheat grains are stored in a grain silo until they reach their physiological maturity in order to get a high-quality base product. The ‘luxury alcohol’ is then mixed with natural drinking water and, after purification, is granted a resting period. Production is limited to the year stated on the label.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Kremlin Award Organic and Kremlin Award Vintage.