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Obsthof Wiesmeier: I hope you are organic?

“Quality is the product of a love of detail.” Following this motto, as well as fresh fruit, various fruit-based products are produced at Obsthof Wiesmeier. The constant quality controls are carried out ac-cording to high standards, from the beginning of production through to storage and packaging. Aside from fruit brandies in numerous varieties, also Frizzante, ciders, jams and fruit juices are produced. The quality of the raw materials is paramount, a large part of which are grown directly on the farm, and seasonal workers are hired to cope with the workload.

The fruity range includes apples, apricots and damsons, fine brandies, liqueurs, Frizzante, juices, ci-ders, vinegar, syrup and nectar, dried apple slices, jams, fruit snacks and muesli, seasonal products, and more. The farm shop is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8am until 6pm and Saturdays from 8am until 12 noon, and offers organic fruit of all shapes and sizes.

Managers Gerhard and his son Paul Wiesmeier are joined by his wife Wilma and daughter Marie-Theres in the key functions of the business. And so the next generation is already firmly involved.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Muscat-Bleu Wood Cigar Brandy, and silver for Second Try Gin.

Destillerie & Brennerei Heinrich Habbel: A maker of special products

Founded in 1878, the grain distillery and adjoining farm is run by the fourth generation of the family. In keeping with tradition, the focus is on classic craftsmanship with great attention to detail. In 2013, the new Hillock Park Distillery was built with pot stills and state-of-the-art technology, named after their established brand of whiskies and liqueurs. The distillery and the western-style saloon make an ideal venue for monthly tastings with changing themes. The distillery is a popular destination in Sprockhövel, excellent for combining shopping in a historic setting with a visit to the cosy restaurant and best whisky bar. The distillery has been named one of the best whisky stores in Germany every year since 2011.

Particular attention is paid to sustainability, with raw materials coming from the region over the shortest possible distances. Well water from their own forest spring guarantees purity and unadulterated taste. Barrel selection is also very important. In addition to first-fill barrels of various origins, new barrels have also been stored in the Hillock Warehouse with the OXOline barrel storage system since 2022. The innovative barrel management system also allows for limited special bottlings. The single malts Hillock 6 ex-Bourbon, Hillock 6 Portwine and Hillock 6 Triple Wood were made from former rum, port and bourbon barrels and were released recently.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Deputat, silver for Hillock Honey & Herbs Single Malt Whisky Liqueur, Hillock Honey Single Malt Whisky Liqueur, Hillock 12 Single Malt Whisky, Hillock 6 Portwine Single Malt Whisky and Hillock 6 ex-Bourbon Single Malt Whisky, and bronze for Single Malt Whisky.

Bimmerle: Know-how meets regionality and trend awareness

At the production site in the Black Forest town of Sasbach, which was opened in 2015, this family business sets innovative standards in technology, sustainability and environmental protection. For the last five decades, Bimmerle has strived for the highest quality, with focussed know-how, modern high-tech and the traditional art of distilling. This is the first distillery in Germany where all the heating requirements and power generation are covered by the burning of fruit stones combined with woodchips from the region.

In Germany and on the European market, Bimmerle is a leader in the fruit brandies sector with the Lörch brand. In order to make the ‘playground’ more interesting, the brand identity was modernised in 2024 and will be extended in 2025 by a fruit brandy range matured in wooden casks. Needle Black Forest Gin is among the top 5 most widely sold gins in Germany. The portfolio has been expanded since 2018 with WOOD STORK Spiced Rum and the EVERMANN Black Forest whiskies Theo & Wilhelm introduced in 2022. The Black Forest distillery has enriched the liqueur and aperitif market with as many as five exciting creations under the DON PASQUALE brand.

The World Class Distillery 2025 & Distillery of the Year 2025 – Bronze (Bitters & Liqueurs) received Gold for Don Pasquale Limoncello Liqueur, Zünftler Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Wood Stork Spiced Rum, Lörch Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Lörch Vanillekipferl Sahnelikör (vanilla cream liqueur), Needle Gin Green, Don Pasquale Aperitif Bitter Liqueur, Don Pasquale Espresso Martini Liqueur, Don Pasquale Hazelnut Liqueur and Lörch Linzertorte Sahnelikör (Linzer tart cream liqueur). Silver was awarded to Kronenhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Zinselhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Altes Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser (damson spirit), Needle Blackforest Distilled Dry Gin, Needle Gin Rosé, Don Pasquale Pistachio Cream Liqueur, Lörch Bratapfel Sahnelikör (baked apple cream liqueur), Zünftler Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Lörch Williams Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (pear spirit aged in a wooden cask) and Lörch Marille Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (apricot spirit aged in a wooden cask), and Bronze to Lörch Obst Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (fruit spirit aged in a wooden cask).