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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.

Rhumerie de Chamarel - Rhumerie de Chamarel – A newcomer with vision

This high-quality rum from the island of Mauritius is produced in line with ecological guidelines. The products are distributed in Austria by the company Wind GmbH, based in Traiskirchen (www.wind-plast.at).

The road leads through extensive pineapple plantations and fields of sugar cane up to the distillery at an altitude of 300 m in the South-West of the island. Designed by a renowned architect, the building is elegant and authentic and a fine example of modern construction with its natural materials such as wood, stone and water. The comprehensive concept also incorporates the L’Alchimiste restaurant where up to 80 guests can savour the sophisticated regional cuisine. At the “Sugar Cane Spirit” boutique, various types of rum are on offer (White Rum, Le Coeur de Chauffe (fine brandy), Rum Paille (stored in wooden casks), Rum Arrange (flavoured with fruits and spices) as well as an exclusive clothing range, hand-made products and a small jewellery collection.

The location and climate of the fertile valley promote the growth and quality of the sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested by hand in the early hours of the morning and processed at the mill within four hours. The fields are not normally burnt, as is usually the case, to make harvesting easier. Even when distilling at the highest modern levels of technology, nothing is wasted: the bagasse – the fibrous remnants of the sugar production process – is burnt to obtain energy. The chimney contains the very latest smoke filters and the ash is used to fertilise the fields.

The company yet again impressed at the World-Spirits Award, with one gold and four silvers.

Eagles Mountain Distillery: Ostalpen in the Mürzer Oberland nature reserve

For quite some years, Werner and Angela Ultsch have been dedicating themselves to the development of innovative alpine drinks, whereby they attach great importance to protecting nature and supporting the region. Werner Ultsch, a pioneer of Austrian natural cuisine, has many decades of experience not only as a chef in fine gastronomy, but also as a hotelier and project developer in the areas of health and tourism. His culinary understanding has always been closely associated with local agriculture.

In 2022 with the takeover of a traditional distillery in Upper Styria, a further alpine site was added for the brands Alperitif® and Alperitivo®. The basis for their production are medicinal herb cultures in the Tyrolean Wipptal valley, where at 1,350 metres above sea level many thousands of masterwort and angelica plants provide the valuable main raw ingredients for both the alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks. In cooperation with organic farmers, a sustainable and regional raw material supply is ensured.

Experiences from the southern Alpine arc (Alpes-Maritimes) provided the inspiration for supplementing the Alperitif® gin liqueur with the Alperitif® Maritim. In 2023, the product range was widened with the novelty Eagles Bready, whereby the alcohol was distilled from ‘yesterday’s bread’ and refined to a wholesome liqueur for hot drinks with alpine herbs, roots and berry juices stored for many months. In addition, there is the Alperitif® ALPINE GIN cum Imperatoria – a strong masterwort gin with a volume percent of 48.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Alperitif® Maritim and Alperitif® ALPINE GIN cum Imperatoria, and silver to Eagles Bready.

Giovanni Dri and His Grappa - Children of the Mountains

"As the best of the vintners in his region, Giovanni Dri is someone I hold in high regard for his Ramandolo - fruity and honest, full in character and racy." This praise from Luigi Veronelli for the sweet wine Ramandolo from the indigeneous grape variety of Verduzzo can also be applied to the grappa variety. The grapes thrive at the foothills of the wine-growing area in the extensive DOC Colli Orientali del Friuli area in the province of Udine. The vineyards are located on steep southern slopes, protected by the 1,700 meter-high Monte Bernadia.
From a small plot of land with virtually impassable vineyards and an old cellar, Giovanni Dri has since 1968 developed one of the most acclaimed estates in Friaul. He is an ambitious, headstrong entrepreneur - and a passionate dreamer. "I believe in the strength of vineyards with their simple and honest fruit, because they bring the sensation of those things under the heavens which are allowing me to dream." His products are also like this - simply expressive.
"I don't want any complicated technology - I am led by tradition. My wife inspires and supports me, while my children are the joy of the future." That is reflected in the simple architecture which allows enough space for the slow maturing of the products. Due to this, it is only after three years that the Grappa Ramandolo comes onto the market: unique and very individual, fresh and fruity (distillation takes place just a short time after harvesting, which guarantees its purity), with typical aromas of almonds and other nuts, and an almost austere, heavy sweetness, however very refined and concentrated. One simply has to like it and likes it more with every sip. The jury at the World-Spirits Award also liked it - and awarded it with a gold medal.