World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

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).

Fuchshof – Product diversity from Lake Constance

Fruit is cultivated in the third generation at the Fuchshof Farm on the shores of Lake Constance near Constance, these days on around 25 hectares. The fruity diversity includes apples, pears, cherries, damsons, strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and gooseberries. Recent test plantings with apricots, peaches and nectarines are also of excellent quality. Fresh fruit is sold in the farm shop on site, but also processed in many ways: the range includes more than 20 different jams, fruit spreads and jellies, juices and ciders, cakes and gateaux from the farm cake shop – and, of course, brandies, spirits and liqueurs.

One focal point of production are the classic fruit brandies of the region, such as Obstler (fruits), Williams Christ (pear) or Apfelbrand (apple brandy); the specialities include pear brandy made exclusively from the fruit from the surrounding orchards, as well as a wooden barrel aged apple brandy made with the Rubinette variety. Brand-new in the wide range of products is the Dry Fox Gin, with herbs from the region and fruits from the farm. This gin was Benjamin Fuchs’ final project in his training as fine brandy sommelier. His brother Florian and father Heinrich are also trained fine brandy sommeliers.

The farm has had distilling rights since 1928. Originally, they were dedicated to agriculture and dairy farming, but since 1978 the traditional farm ceased to exist and made room for fruit growing. The first strawberries were planted and, in 1984, the first orchard was planted. And, since the end of the 1980s, the farm shop with its wide range is an attractive address for connoisseurs.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for the new product, Dry Fox Gin.

MV GROUP – A wide range from the Baltic states

MV Group is one of the largest business groups in the Baltic states. There are four divisions responsible for the production of alcoholic drinks: Stumbras, Alita, Anykš i vynas and Gubernija - the oldest brewery in Lithuania, with more than 350 years of experience under its belt. The factory specialises in beer, kvass and other drinks. Another member of the group is Mineraliniai Vandenys, the leading wholesaler for alcohol, tobacco, and other consumer goods in the Baltic countries, with subsidiaries in Latvia, Estonia and Poland, and the specialist chainstore Bottlery, where over 1,000 drink brands as well as snacks and table accessories are sold. Tromina, one of the most innovative, stable and fastest-growing logistics businesses in Lithuania, manages a 35,000 m2 storage area and offers a comprehensive range of services – from storage and preparation of goods to sales, transport, distribution, accounting and invoicing.

Alita is one of the oldest and well-known manufacturers of sparkling wines and spirits in Lithuania. The portfolio includes sparkling wines, brandies, bitters, cocktails, carbonated drinks, vodka and other spirits. A large percentage of the production is exported. Stumbras is one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of alcoholic drinks in the Baltic region, and specialises in vodka, bitters, liqueurs and brandy. Anykšciu vynas is one of the oldest businesses in the southern Baltic region, well-known for fruit and berry wines, cider, bitters, liqueurs as well as concentrated juices, mostly from regional raw materials.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Alita Brandy XO.