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Klippenziege: New era in the world of gin

In December 2015, four friends captured the ‘spirit’ of an idea: they were thinking about gin. Nearly a year later a small batch was bottled by hand. The individuality of a gin lies in the combination of the botanicals, in this case it is the exotic selection: mate tea, goji berries, physalis and a hint of rose. The Klippenziege is a New Western Dry Gin, in which juniper plays the main role amongst the other botanicals.

It is produced in the Habbel Distillery, which guarantees excellent quality thanks to its experience – it was established in 1878 and is now in the family’s fourth generation. The former Korn distillery in Sprockhövel with adjoining farmland is now the largest fruit distillery in the Ruhr region, as a traditional manufacturer it stands out with its attention to detail. The entire manufacturing process at Klippenziege can also be observed on-site.

The bottle and the label are also special. Designer Levent Aydin drew it carefully by hand, and then digitalised it before perfecting it. First it is printed, then coated, then stamped and embossed. The elegant result stands for friendship, solidarity and love. Working together in a friendly and familiar atmosphere connects people with a passion for life who share one important belief: that the product should encourage people to slow down, allowing for mindful enjoyment.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Mate Dry Gin.

Ehrenwert GmbH: One recipe – two families

One recipe – two families. Each family has its own carefully guarded secret recipe, and with the Lücke family this remained in the hands of grandfather Heinz and later his son Dieter for many decades. Long enough, thought sons Thomas and Christian. In any case, it is the ‘Felsenfeuer’ herb liqueur that once made the Lücke Distillery one of the most important in Münsterland. After the war they continued the success story which first began in the 18th century, with this herb liqueur, using the recipe that Heinz Lücke worked out. In the 1950s everyone was talking about it, but in the 1960s the era of the distillery and the herb liqueur ended. But not for good – 60 years later it celebrated its resurrection with the ‘Freudenfeuer’.

Whilst searching for a distillery, Thomas and Christian kept to family tradition, as their grandmother was a Sasse, and the Sasses’ fine distillery in Schöppingen is still well known today. Following a traditional recipe from 1947 the new liqueur is distilled in small batches and is bottled by hand after a ten-day rest period. Ready to enjoy: neat and ice cold like in the time of our grandfathers, or smoother, on ice with lightly pressed orange zest, or as a basis for a long drink with tonic water or ginger ale. To old times and new friends!

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Freudenfeuer.

Stock Spirits: Tradition, origin and innovative strength

Stock Spirits is one of the leading spirits producers in Europe and offers a high-quality portfolio, connected to its local and regional heritage. Italy is one of the most diverse countries for spirits. From Alpine herbal bitters to Mediterranean citrus distillates, from traditional grappa to modern craft spirits: Italian spirits are known for craftsmanship, regional identity and sensory depth.

Stock Spirits pick up on this heritage. They are based on classic raw materials such as grapes, pomace, herbs, roots, citrus peel and spices, all deeply rooted in the respective regions. Production often follows traditional methods such as discontinuous distillation, slow maceration or natural flavouring, supplemented by contemporary quality standards and precise sensory analysis.

Typical of Italian spirits is their connection to the culinary world: in addition to the variety of aperitifs and digestifs, they are an indispensable part of the eating and drinking culture. Bitter, sweet, spicy or floral – the broad spectrum ranges from clearly structured basic spirits to complex aroma compositions for bar culture and upscale gastronomy.

Stock Spirits offer a broad basis for retail, bars and further processing: consistent quality, a clear profile and versatile in use. They combine Italian origin with international connectivity – whether as the basis for liqueurs, cocktails, modern interpretations of classic recipes or innovative indulgence concepts. With their focus on authenticity, the quality of their raw materials and precision craftsmanship, they exemplify a spirits culture that respects the past and shapes the future.

Limoncè Aperitivo won Silver at the World Spirits Award.

Royal Hawaii Spirits Distillery: Authentic recipes for customised drinks

In 2015 the RHS LLC Distillery was founded and in 2018 they started with developing and producing small quantities of spirits and distilled specialities, as well as beginning sales in Hawaii. The brand was launched with nine of their most popular products: Hula Girl Lilikoi (Passionfruit) Vodka, Kona Mule Coffee Liqueur, Pineapple Spirit & Brandy, Hawaii Mule, Ginger Honey Cordial, Maui Pink Gin, Whisky Formula No. 808, Sandwich Islands Rum and Sakura Hawaiian Style Shochu.

The wholesaler for distilling and sales is in Honolulu. Small quantities are produced, based on 100% locally produced alcohol. Some spirits are available for bars and trademarks or in cooperation with other artisanal distilleries, to manufacture alcoholic drinks outside of the Hawaiian Islands. Exclusive or customer-specific recipes for bars, clubs, restaurants, spirits shops and others are also possible. The mission of RHS is to offer consumers affordable, locally produced spirits, using high-quality ingredients and supporting local farmers and enterprises. The vision of RHS is exceptional performance in the production of spirits in the federal state of Hawaii, by combining old and new European, Asian and American recipes with authentic fruits and herbs, in order to satisfy customers on the mainland and internationally with excellent spirits.

At the World Spirits Award, the Dragon Fruit Spirit Liquor and Aloha Spirit Liqueur achieved gold, while both Rum and Spirit Distilled from Pineapple as well as Rum and Spirit Distilled from Ginger achieved silver.