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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.

Brennerei Ehringhausen: 700 years of tradition

The history of the Ehringhausen farm begins in 1237, at that time known as Haus Edrinchhausen. The traditional name, Erich, became the name of the farm, as well as the family’s surname and the name of the products. The Korn (grain distillate) distillery was founded in 1962. 30 years later an exceptional and, for its time ground-breaking, idea was born: to produce spirits organically, with spelt instead of wheat. In 2012, the siblings Theres and Georg Glitz-Ehringhausen took over their parents’ distillery and continued their handicraft in the third generation, creatively and in close contact with nature.

“For us, Korn is more than just a regional speciality. Korn is our inspiration! We look for the best organic ingredients and new recipes with unusual flavours with a Korn distillate base. We want to contribute to the production of high-quality, regional products and to give versatile Korn a new lease on life.”

The new wooden barrel collection has been named after their great-great-grandfather. Known for his extravagant ways and good taste, his nickname was ‘the little Lord’. Around 130 years ago, he was the first farmer in Ehringhausen to cultivate spelt and also planted an oak forest. The great-great-uncle’s herbarium became the source for aroma experiments that resulted in five gins. The base is a mild Korn distillate made from regional organic wheat.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Der Kleine Lord N° 6, Rye Whisky N° 2, Jos. Garden Dry Gin Blutorange (blood orange), Jos. Garden Red – Bitter Spritz Aperitif Liqueur, Classic Ladies Orangen Eier Crème (orange egg cream liqueur) and Classic Ladies Eier Creme Likör (egg cream liqueur), and silver for Dinkelkorn holzfassgelagert (spelt distillate matured in a wooden cask), Brennerei Ehringhausen Zitronengeist (lemon spirit) and Brennerei Ehringhausen Orangengeist (orange spirit

Gans Feinbrand Manufaktur – Sophisticated gin from a well-established production process

In a small village in the March of Brandenburg, there is a quartet enthusiasts with a love for detail at work who want to express their passion for excellent spirits with their own products. It is here that they produce regional products with a special signature, such as GANS Gin. Exotic botanicals from far afield are not used, but twelve ‘unassuming’ local ingredients are used to compose a lively symphony, the notes of which already play a beautiful tune in the nose.

GANS Gin belongs to a young, innovative gin category, the New Western Style, where the focus is not on the juniper, and other aromas are given more room. The fresh, fruity, flowery gin is characterised by a combination of aronia berries, acacia blossom, rosehip, blackberries, oat straw, clover, lemon herbs, and daisies. The juniper unfolds its typical notes in a complex postlude of flavours on the palate.

The alcoholic base is the best farmer’s raw alcohol, produced in Germany using local products. Together with the organic botanicals, it is carefully distilled and then diluted with especially soft water. Distilled in small batches, GANS Gin is a very special boutique spirit for long drinks, cocktails and, above all, pure enjoyment – nothing unusual, just something simply unique.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for GANS Quince Liqueur.