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Destilleum Michael Mayer – Specialities from Franconia

In Pflaumheim on the north-easterly edge of the Odenwald forest, Michael Mayer runs his Destilleum distillery with passion and a ‘burning heart’. His motto “Everything is possible, nothing is a must. Normal is for other people!” has accompanied him throughout his life. In 1995, together with a friend, he took over a vineyard in Großostheim near Aschaffenburg in Lower Franconia, but while the vines never really thrived, the berry bushes and sloes grew rampant. So the two of them decided to produce fruit wines: from blackcurrants, raspberries and sloes. Runaway sales at the local Christmas market further encouraged his passion and paved the way for liqueur production. Because Michael Mayer wanted to give his ginger liqueur more aroma, he invested in a distillation system and became a ‘part-time’ distiller – he works full-time for the Großostheim waterworks.

The ‘raw materials’ for the production thrive in his own garden: for example, chilli for the chilli-cherry liqueur, and the family helps pick and process the fruit in his orchard. On a separate plot of land, the creative distiller takes part in the Franconian ‘Mustea’ re-cultivation project, which is responsible for the preservation of old varieties of quince. He has also planted rare varieties, such as sorb, medlar and wild service. The latter requires special, elaborate harvesting, in which four people take four days, standing at least three metres off the ground, to collect 180 kilograms of berries for 4.6 litres of spirit. This also explains why Michael Mayer is well known for his specialities, including elder brandy, quince brandy, medlar brandy, Jerusalem artichoke brandy as well as ginger brandy and spirit. Anyone who wants to know more can make an appointment to view the distillery and enjoy a tasting session, as well as have the possibility to buy products in the farm shop.

At the World Spirits Award, the Destilled London Dry Gin won a bronze medal.

ASM – Purist vodka from New Zealand

Artisan Spirits Merchants (ASM) was founded by Julian Moss in Sydney in 2004. Passion and perfectionism inspired him to develop an exceptional product: the purest vodka in the world.

The trice-distilled VDKA 6100, based on whey and spring water from New Zealand, was launched on the market in New York with the support of Robert De Niro. As an investor he was involved in the design, packaging, branding and positioning of VDKA 6100. Incidentally, there are 6,100 miles between New Zealand and the USA – hence the name! The elegance of VDKA 6100 comes down to the purity of the ingredients. This drop is gluten-free, sugar-free, lactose-free and free from chemical additives.

The company is striving to expand the impressive growth it has achieved in North America and in many other countries of the world. In order to cement its global focus and to utilise the potential of VDKA to the full, Asahi Premium Beverages has taken over the brand for the markets in Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for VDKA 6100.