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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.

Levante Spirits: Tuscan gin from the amphora

The idea for the company Levante Spirits was born in Florence, inspired by the wind of the Levant, which in the past led many explorers into exotic worlds and promoted the trade of goods. This is evoked by the Old Sailor Coffee Liqueur, a drink based on rum, which recalls Adriatic seafarers at the end of the 18th century. Today it is all about innovative impulses for spirits according to traditional recipes – based on the conviction that what is truly novel can only be made using regional resources.

The navy-blue London Dry Gin is made exclusively from organic raw ingredients of Tuscan origin. The wheat for the basic alcohol comes from Mugello to the north of Florence, while the juniper – ginepraio which literally means ‘juniper thicket’ – comes from three different regions, along with coriander, angelica root, orange and lemon peel, strawflower and briar rose. The distillation in a specially constructed still is followed by a six-month refinement in environmentally friendly containers: handmade amphora from cocciopesto, a raw material made of recycled materials. It was already known in ancient Rome as a building material for baths and aqueducts. The mix of ground bricks, clay, sand, spring water, cement and natural reinforcement fibres displays a remarkable porousness after weeks of natural hardening – perfect for the refinement of texture and taste.

At the World Spirits Award, double gold was awarded to Ginepraio Amphora Navy Strength (Spirit of the Year 2022), as well as gold to Ginepraio Organic Tuscan Dry Gin.

Edelbrandmanufaktur Wilhelm Marx – Luxurious products from Gut Bärenhof

Deep in the Bavarian Forest lies the idyllic farm belonging to the Marx family. Only founded in 2012, the fine brandy manufacturer was able to establish itself in the expert world within a very short space of time. Wilhelm Marx, qualified fine brandy sommelier, has concentrated on innovative products, without neglecting regional classics – which have, of course, been newly interpreted. This means that rather unusual ingredients, such as ginger and lemongrass, stand alongside local strawberries, dried pears and dandelion petals. The secret of their success is easily explained: passionate handicraft, meticulous procedure and the will to experiment.

As a passionate connoisseur, Wilhelm Marx, together with his wife Birgit, has achieved his dream: delicious distillates with natural ingredients, without flavourings, colourings or preservatives. Since August 2017, the products have been certified as ecological products and thus ‘ORGANIC’ according to the Council Regulation on organic production.

The Gut Bärenhof farm itself is a natural oasis, which could hardly be more beautiful. It provides ripe fruits such as quince, rosehip, sloe and elderberry, which are carefully processed by hand in small batches. Even the fresh ginger from Asia is peeled by hand and carefully processed.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Sicilian Organic Blood Orange, gold for Coffee Spirit and GIN BayernDry, silver for Organic Wild Raspberry, Hierbas del Bávaro Bosque, Blackcurrant, Elderberry, Organic Wild Blueberry, GIN infused by Elderflower, Espresso Liqueur and GINGERLIQ, and bronze for Artichoke Bitter and Genziana d‘Oro.