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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.

Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits – Sporty on many waters

What began in 1996 as a small group of hobby brewers, who simply wanted to make good beer, developed over the years into a successful team under the name of Ballast Point. In 2008, distillation was added, and these days the company with its headquarters in San Diego is an internationally recognised market leader on the brewery and distillation scene, with a product range including more than 40 types of beer and seven spirits. In November 2013, Ballast Point was given the title of ‘California Distillery of the Year’ at the New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC), and Head Distiller Yuseff Cherney is rightly proud of the award, with so much competition around.

Co-founder Jack White adds: “For us, distillation is a natural expansion of brewing. We started with it for the same reason: we wanted to produce what we like drinking. With our spirits, we try to bring our own style into the century-old handicraft of distillation. And it is great that the public like it.” The bottles are also original, with motifs from the world of seafaring and fishing. These refer to the company founders’ second favourite pastime, congenially interpreted by artist Paul Elder, who transforms each idea into wonderful labels. The logo, a sextant, has a reason behind it: the historical navigation instrument was used to compare the angle of the stars to the horizon, to find out the nautical position of the boat. For the company, the sextant is a constant reminder to proceed with the journey, with new ideas and new flavours.

When they are not brewing or distilling, the Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits bosses are sure to be fishing. At other times, two professional sport angling teams train all year and take part in competitions. Talking of competitions: at the World Spirits Award, Ballast Point Spirits landed a good catch: Three Sheets Rum, Devil’s Share Moonshine and Devil’s Share Single Malt Whiskey took gold. Fugu Vodka, Old Grove Gin, Three Sheets Barrel Aged Rum and Devil’s Share Bourbon hooked silver.

Vittorio Capovilla: Perfection of quality

Vittorio Capovilla typifies Italian distillation culture – with elegant fruit brandies and perfect grappa. Only the fresh marc of different grape varieties is used for the excellent grappa range and the raw materials for the fruit brandies are selected. Only 100% distillates (no gin or spirits) were produced until 15 years ago, when he began to distil rum. In the year 2018, Capovilla received the WSA‘s lifetime achievement award.

At the foot of Monte Grappa in the Venetian Maritime Alps, in the historical cellars of Villa Dolfin in Rosà near Bassano, stands the modern distillery of a quality fanatic – constructed according to a perfectionist’s design.

The number one Italian distiller is also an international star. Whilst still managing to keep his feet on the ground, ‘Gianni’ is still the same kind and charming, decent, nature-loving person who is full of passion and zest for life. In his philosophy, he is uncompromising and persistent, from the search for raw materials to the design of the bottles. The highest quality is still paramount where grappa and fruit distillates are concerned, which are always produced without ‘sugar refining’, and which have established a new understanding of quality in the phrase ‘Spirits made in Italy’.

The World Class Distillery 2022 OBB and World Class Distillery 2022 GRAPPA received gold for Grappa Amarone legno, Distillato di Amarene di Montagna, Distillato Bierbrand legno, Grappa Barolo, Grappa Traminer, Grappa Moscato Giallo, Grappa Moscato Rosa, Distillato di Vino Diesel Farm and Distillato di Mele Cotogne. Silver was awarded to Distillato Prunus Aurum, Distillato di Sorbo dell’Uccellatore, Grappa Bassano Centenario and Distillato di Vino Parusso.