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Garagenbrenner Wöhrer – Expertise and continuity

Some 35 years ago, Manfred Wöhrer started out as an amateur schnapps distiller, using rented equipment. Today, this ‘garage distiller’ and quality fanatic is one of the great masters of the distillery scene. In the past, he has applied his profound expertise to producing high-quality brandies in national and international tasting sessions as a former taster and valued member of the jury.

Manfred Wöhrer pursued his career as a master builder until 2010 when he handed over the construction firm to his son, Christoph. Now retired, he has more time to dedicate to distilling – and with growing success! Based on a secure foundation, he has built up a wide range of expressive distillates which are typical of their varieties and all bear his unique signature. No nonsense but classy, free from fancy names or marketing gimmicks.

Master distiller Manfred Wöhrer monitors all of the work processes in person, supported by family and friends: from the selection of the fruits and identification of the right time to harvest, to the selective determination of the distillery process, filling and packing. Annual production totals approx. 4,000 bottles, distributed across 16 to 18 different products. Particular emphasis is placed on the quality increase of the traditional brandies: apple, Williams pear, apricot, damson and cherry. Manfred Wöhrer has been working at a new distillery since 2005 – a bright room for working, tasting and shopping, where visitors can acquire first-hand knowledge at distilling demonstrations and tasting seminars.

Classified as a World Class Distillery 2018, there was double gold für Zwetschke 48 Reserva fassgelagert (barrel-aged damson) (Spirit of the Year 2018), gold for apricot and damson, and silver for yellow Williams pear, red Williams pear and sour cherry.

Edelkorn-Brennerei Jos. Rosche: We are happily distilling for you!

In the oldest town in Emsland, the Rosche family have been using their own grain for the finest distillate to make fine Korn (grain distillates), fruit brandies and liqueurs since 1792. The fine fragrance and the mild taste of wheat and malt are already present during the course of the 36-hour fine distillation process. The best water from Haselünne is added to achieve the desired drinking strength, and then the distillates mature in stoneware or stainless-steel containers. By storing Emsland’s cultural treasure in wooden barrels which previously held brandies or wines, it is united with aromas from around the world: as a single cask edition of ‘Edelkorn Generation 5’ or as ‘Joe’s Best’, every drop is a treat. The latest product is ‘HOPE’ – a London Dry Gin with a light hint of hops.

Since 1986, the company has been directed by Joe Rosche, representing the fifth generation of the family. He is the co-founder of the ‘Bund deutscher Edelkorn-Brenner’ (German Korn distillers) and co-initiator of the ‘protected declaration of origin’ for Haselünner Korn at the EU level. The ‘Korn Academy’ which he founded is an entertaining but educational plant tour. He uses it as a way to create many thousands of fine craft Korn enthusiasts every year. Susanne and Joe are also socio-politically engaged and support worldwide water projects in particular. Climate protection in the region is especially dear to their hearts and they use returnable bottles for the majority of their spirits.

The World Class Distillery 2024 received double gold for de la Roche, gold for Edelkorn Generation 5 matured in a whisky barrel, Rosche Haselünner Korn, Joe’s Best 35 – aged Korn stored in a whisky barrel, Edelkorn Generation 5 matured in a port barrel and Edelkorn Generation 5 matured in a Sauternes barrel, and silver for Hope London Dry Gin and Uralter.

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).