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Brennerei Penth: Ideas for schnapps from Saarland

The distillery is located in the heart of Saarland, in the small village of Landsweiler in Lebach, where the Penth family have dedicated themselves to the craft of distillation since 1959. In the family tradition, master distiller and juice maker, Franz Penth, runs the business that he took over from his father in 1981. He gained his master craftsman’s certificate in Berlin, but never had special training: “I was only eight years old and I was already watching my father distilling and helping out!”

The fruit harvest means high season at the Penth Distillery: every day, mirabelle plums, damsons, apples, quinces and other fruit are delivered. Year in, year out, the still is filled up to 1,000 times, whereby about 100 tonnes of fruit yield 15,000 litres of schnapps. In his many years of experience, Franz Penth has also filled the still 1,700 times and, when the harvest was bad, only 100 times. As a speciality of the house, the products are filled into gift bottles and exquisite, decorative bottles – also bespoke ones – which are sourced from glassblowing workshop all over Germany. And so, individual customer requests for custom-made bottles for companies and clubs can be met. Aside from the classic product range of brandies, spirits and liqueurs, over recent years new products such as Agnes’ Green Dry Gin and Pastis Bernard have been developed.

The Master Class Distillery 2019 received gold for Rosehip Brandy, Pear Brandy, and silver for Agnes’ Green Dry Gin, Pastis Bernard, cask-aged Apple Brandy, Organic Riesling Grape Brandy and Mirabelle Plum Brandy.

LA SU Gin: Exotic holiday feeling in a glass

Alexander Kayser and Christopher Schuh are true gin lovers and founders of the brand LA SU Gin – a registered brand of Expo Outline Messebau und Event GmbH in Altenstadt, with Alexander Kayser as the managing partner.

After exploring many trains of thought, it was clear to both of them that it had to be exotic. LA SU Gin is a premium handcrafted gin with a hint of fruity mango. Distilled in small batches, traditionally and without additives, it is made in one of the oldest distilleries in Europe. The mango gives it a special freshness and balances the tart notes of the spices perfectly. Next to the mango, LA SU evokes a sense of travel. Enjoy a holiday feeling and discover new taste sensations. The elaborate bottle design reflects a love of detail and certainly leaves an impression.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was achieved by LA SU *MGO* Natural Mango.