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Hofbrennerei Oberkorb: Pure brandies exclusively

Andreas Franzl’s small farm distillery is located between Munich and Mühldorf near Dorfen. He picks wild fruits and the best fruit from the region’s meadow orchards with trees of over 100 years of age to create the basis for highly aromatic fruit brandies with a terroir character. Only pure brandies emerge from the farm distillery. They are of incomparable elegance and owe their depth and harmony to over 20 years of maturation in some cases. Flagship products include old varieties of apple and pear, European wild plum and quince, complemented by brandies made from extremely rare fruits such as danewort, guelder rose or red elderberry. The brandies are long established in the top restaurants of Bavaria and beyond.

Andreas Franzl, Master of World Spirits and brandy sommelier h.c., can draw on the tradition of a wonderful farm with over 400 years of history. He has shown courage, openness and foresight regarding the status and value of pure fruit brandies in the spirits industry. More than 800 distillers from all over Europe have now completed his distilling and sensory courses. He is an advisory board member and lecturer for sensory analysis at the Genussakademie Bayern in Kulmbach, and is heavily involved in the conception and implementation of the fine brandy sommelier qualification. With his son Georg, a budding Master of World Spirits, the next generation is already on board to lead the distillery into the future with its famed consistency of quality.

As of 2026, this will be commercially integrated into the new bonded distillery. The new barrel store also matures whiskies distilled from the farm’s own barley and honey brandies from the farm’s bees. Not to mention beer brandies and fruit brandies, some of which are aged in ash barrels from the farm’s own forest.

At the World Spirits Award, this World Class Distillery 2026 won Gold for several spirits: Roter Weinbergpfirsich (red vineyard peach), Wachauer Marille (apricot), Himbeerbrand aus Waldhimbeeren (wild raspberry), Hausapfel (apple, cuvée of old varieties), Hauszwetschke – in Johanniskreuzeiche (damson, matured in oak barrels).

Lovely Rita Spirits – With a clear concept for the future

The company Lovely Rita Spirits, based in Arizona, was founded by Ray Rita, Michael Meinerz and Bob Derks. All three have a soft spot for Latin American culture and lifestyle, run a website for the Latino community, and organise fashion shows with South American designers. So it is understandable that their focus is on the fashionable spirit, tequila. To support their activities, they have created a special brand, aimed at a predominantly progressive female audience.

The soft, balanced tequila is produced according to traditional methods in a distillery in Mexico, which has been there for 90 years. Flavoured with a touch of agave, the six times distilled vodka with a corn basis is produced and bottled in Arizona. Using the successful concept, more products will follow, such as tequila varieties with peach and orange.

In order to be able to concentrate on the further development of the brand products, they cooperate with one of the largest distributors in the USA, the Breakthru Beverage Group. In addition, the spirits are available at www.oldtowntequila.com. Brand Ambassador is the Armanetti Group – Frank Armanetti’s family was once the largest spirits dealer in Chicago.

“We as founders and our investors are convinced that, thanks to the quality of the product and the right sales channels, we have two of the three things we need. The rest is a bit of luck and a high enough turnover”, say Michael Meinerz and Bob Derks.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Lovely Rita Vodka, and silver for Lovely Rita Tequila.

Klippenziege: New era in the world of gin

In December 2015, four friends captured the ‘spirit’ of an idea: they were thinking about gin. Nearly a year later a small batch was bottled by hand. The individuality of a gin lies in the combination of the botanicals, in this case it is the exotic selection: mate tea, goji berries, physalis and a hint of rose. The Klippenziege is a New Western Dry Gin, in which juniper plays the main role amongst the other botanicals.

It is produced in the Habbel Distillery, which guarantees excellent quality thanks to its experience – it was established in 1878 and is now in the family’s fourth generation. The former Korn distillery in Sprockhövel with adjoining farmland is now the largest fruit distillery in the Ruhr region, as a traditional manufacturer it stands out with its attention to detail. The entire manufacturing process at Klippenziege can also be observed on-site.

The bottle and the label are also special. Designer Levent Aydin drew it carefully by hand, and then digitalised it before perfecting it. First it is printed, then coated, then stamped and embossed. The elegant result stands for friendship, solidarity and love. Working together in a friendly and familiar atmosphere connects people with a passion for life who share one important belief: that the product should encourage people to slow down, allowing for mindful enjoyment.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Mate Dry Gin.