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South Seas Distilleries: India’s pioneer of premium spirits

South Seas Distilleries is one of the most traditional distilleries in India and embodies over four generations of craftsmanship, combining local raw materials and a spirit of innovation with global quality standards. Founded in 1984 in Dahanu, Maharashtra, South Seas was one of the early pioneers of producing classic single malt whiskies in India. Early on, the distillery relied on high-quality pot still technology from Scotland and later built the largest copper pot stills in the country as well as an extensive maturation warehouse for spirits with depth and character.

The philosophy of the distillery is based on a simple but powerful credo: quality before quantity, substance before spectacle. This claim is reflected in products such as the Crazy Cock single malt whisky, a multi-matured India single malt that displays a rich aroma profile with warmth, complexity and finesse thanks to careful cask selection (ex-bourbon, ex-sherry).

However, South Seas goes beyond the classic whisky tradition. With Six Brothers Mahura, a centuries-old Indian spirit category has been revived. Presented as a luxurious heritage spirit with global ambition, they are an expression of India’s cultural depth and regional heritage – unique in this form worldwide. At a time when the premium spirits market is increasingly looking for authenticity and origin, South Seas is sending out a clear signal, namely that tradition and innovation can be combined to create spirits that delight experts and curious connoisseurs alike.

At the World Spirits Award, there was Gold for Six Brothers Mahura, and Silver for Crazy Cock The Single Malt Whisky – Madhuca 1 and Crazy Cock The Single Malt Whisky – DHUA.

Liedschreiber Erdelbranddestillerie: A vocational passion

Andreas and Anna-Maria Liedschreiber both come from a farming background and have been running the farm with cattle, grassland, forest, alpine pastures and a distillery since 2003. The family has five daughters and one son. Andreas, a trained carpenter and master farmer, has been distilling using traditional methods in the farm’s own distillery since 1985. He has been a taster for sensory tests at the Weihenstephan University of Applied Sciences since 2000 and completed his training as a fine brandy sommelier in 2010. Anna-Maria, a master of home economics, specialises in liqueurs made from fruits and flowers and is also a fine brandy sommelier.

The distillery is located in the charming Alpine foothills near Lake Tegernsee. The Schafstatthof farm is not just a place of production, but an experience for all the senses. Every bottle tells a story – from carefully selected ingredients to masterful distillation. The high-quality specialities are matured to perfection in old earthenware barrels and are harmonised with their own mountain spring water. Visitors can learn more about the high-quality process from the fruit to the fine distillate and interesting facts about modern distillation technology on a public distillation tour (registration from ten people). Afterwards, there are tastings from the wide range of products, plus regional cheeses and fresh bread. For larger events (up to 80 people), the comfortably furnished ‘Destillenzi’ and a terrace with a view of the Alpine landscape are available.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, Gold was awarded to Schlehe-Brand (blackthorn brandy), Speierling-Brand (service tree brandy) and Herzbeere-Brand (guelder rose brandy), and Silver to Wildkirsche-Brand (wild cherry brandy).

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.

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).