World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Nordbrand Nordhausen: Special spirits from Thuringia

Nordbrand Nordhausen was founded in 1948 upon the ruins of four former Korn distilleries. The oldest, the Friedrich Degen distillery, goes back to the year 1776. Until 1990, formerly small distilleries were added on, including Brennerei Seidel. Today it is the traditional distillery of the well-known Echter Nordhäuser brand. Gins and caraway are distilled in this historical area. The famous Roggenkorn (rye) is made in a distillery that was built in the 1920s as a German spirits reutilisation centre and has also been part of Nordbrand Nordhausen since 1948.

The market leader in Germany in various segments has a wide product range (over 100 different variants). A line of premium spirits and premium liqueurs under the brand Echter Nordhäuser Traditionsbrennerei are distilled by hand. These include Feiner Alter Doppelkorn with at least three years of barrel maturation as well as Meisterstück, a Korn brandy (grain distillate) matured in the barrel for 25 years, which came onto the market in September 2020 as a one-off. The portfolio also includes various gins of the Echter Nordhäuser brand, including Violet Gin. A specific recipe was developed for this that merges a juniper distillate with one made of hibiscus, lavender and mallow blossoms. The harmonious brandy is rounded off with oranges and raspberries, which are added in an aroma basket for distillation. In this way, experienced Korn master distillers can always keep creating modern and fresh innovations.

At the World Spirits Award, silver was awarded to Meisterstück, and bronze to Violet 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.

2B Hemp Gin: Styrian gin experience

Two visionaries, Armin Breinl (doctor, drink creator, musician) and Wolfgang Thomann (gin maker), have created a completely new gin experience with real hemp powder: 2B HEMP GIN (inspired by AEIJST). On 17th November 2018, the two invited guests to the first tasting of 2B HEMP GIN in the AEIJST GIN distillery in St. Nikolai in the Sausal Valley.

Made from organic juniper berries, this innovative gin has an impressive, mild and fruity taste and a typical hemp note. Due to its unique aroma, it not only tastes good neat, but also creates a ‘wow’ effect in cocktails – as proven in the long drink Styrian Pale Gin AEIJST refined with 2B HEMP.

For thousands of years, hemp has been grown as a valuable plant, be it for rope, fabric, paper or as an active ingredient in ointments and tinctures. Hemp has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, yet recently has been demonised as an addictive drug and has suffered under its ensuing prohibition, originating in the USA. These days hemp is regaining importance and is being used more as a luxury food as well as in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The Lifestyle Trading company, run by Armin Breinl, is an innovative beverage producer, which is already known amongst trade professionals for its sugar-free ‘func- tional fruit drinks’. The drinks have a high fruit content (more than 50 per cent) and additional natural, vital substances and have an energising, relaxing and regenerative effect.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for 2B HEMP GIN.

Diageo – From London to the whole world

Approximately 33,000 employees are employed worldwide at Diageo, the market leader in premium spirits, with Smirnoff (vodka), Johnnie Walker (whiskey), J&B (Scotch whiskey), Baileys (liqueur), Captain Morgan (rum), Cuervo (tequila) and Tanqueray (gin), Guinness beer and branded wines. Production takes place all around the world: from Great Britain and Ireland, Italy, Spain and Africa, to the USA, Canada, Latin America, Australia, India and the Caribbean. The global corporation emerged in 1997 from the merger between Guinness and GrandMet. 180 markets around the world are handled from its London headquarters.

A lot of work and lots of attention to detail go into creating the in-depth product descriptions on Diageo’s website. Information and analysis is provided about issues ranging from detailed descriptions of the production down to the most minute ingredients. Finally, they are aware of the size of their company and also of their responsibilities as a supplier of alcoholic products. The name Diageo was also deliberately chosen – it represents their agenda. Put together from ‘dia’ (the Latin word for ‘day’) and ‘geo’ (the Greek word for ‘world’), it means that every day people are celebrating all over the world with products from their company. These products open up possibilities never dreamed of for special days and nights, marking special life events and even making the smaller things in life feel magical.

Participation in the World Spirits Award was magical: there was double gold for Tanqueray No. 10 (Spirit of the Year 2016), gold for Gordon’s London Dry Gin and Tanqueray London Dry Gin, as well as silver for Tanqueray Rangpur.