World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

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).

Clint Wilfred & Sons – Good taste for rapidly expanding markets

Clint Wilfred & Sons Ltd brings a carefully selected portfolio of drinks to the Gulf region and Southeast Asia. The young company targets fast-moving products in the HORECA – Hotel/Restaurant/Café and Hotel/Restaurant/Catering market segment. It is run by Clint Wilfred, whose family has been in the spirit production and distribution business for over four decades.

One main focus of business activities lies in the United Arab Emirates. To offer new products on this rapidly growing market is a great challenge, as the demand for premium and niche products is constantly increasing and customers’ wishes are very diverse. The range, therefore, also includes non-alcoholic and carbonated soft drinks, still and sparkling water, ready-to-drink teas, energy sport drinks and other New Age drinks. There is also a strong focus on a wide selection of packaging sizes and formats.

One special product in the spirits product category is Count Cristo Blended Scotch Whisky, a premium blend with a high malt content from the Scottish Speyside region and with some lowland malt for added depth and character.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Count Cristo Blended Scotch Whisky.

Casa Noble – The essence of the blue agave

Casa Noble premium tequilas are a part of Mexico, made from ripe, blue agaves (‘Agave tequilana F.A.C. Weber’), hand-picked in the hills of Tequila in the state of Jalisco. Only made in small batches, with traditional techniques, the results can be tasted in this notable trio: Casa Noble Tequila Crystal, Casa Noble Reposado Tequila and Casa Noble Tequila Añejo. Modern know-how is based on a handicraft art that has been passed down through seven generations, begun by the founder and Maestro Tequilero, Jose ‘Pepe’ Hermosillo, in the middle of the 18th century.

As a USDA Certified Organic Tequila producer, all rules and practices for sustainability must be strictly followed throughout the entire production process. The first step is the selection of the ripe agaves, which must comply with strict criteria in terms of water and sugar content. The fruit heart (‘piña’) is steamed in large ovens for 36 hours, to extract the sweet juice. After the fermentation process, distillation takes place, and at Casa Noble this means three times – once more than is usual. French Limousin oak barrels are used for maturation and storage. The result is a tequila which takes the spirit to new levels.

The products also performed at a high level at the World Spirits Award: with double gold for Casa Noble Joven, gold for Casa Noble Añejo, and silver for Casa Noble Crystal.

BillionBars: From a bartender to a drinks developer

Robert Pölzl is one of the best-known bartenders in Austria, the bar is his world and his vocation. Travelling around the world, he entertains, advises and serves, sometimes shaking and sometimes stirring. He transforms classic drinks into new creations using modern methods and flavours. Because for him the possibilities of working with drinks and spirits is endless, he chose the name BillionBars. For people looking for a bar concept and innovative drinks, they are definitely in the right hands with Pölzl. His aim is to identify what the customer wants and needs.

He himself has already sampled and mixed hundreds of gins, and has now developed his own creation. According to the motto: Small Batch, Big Taste, Great Gin. As a bartender, he has made it his task to keep conjuring new drink experiences into the glasses of guests. For his own gin he perfected the various botanicals. In his words: “Eye – nose – palate”.

With the master distiller Patrick Marchl, he found the missing building block for realising his vision. The high quality standards are reflected in the choice of exclusively organic botanicals. Distilling was undertaken by Rick Gin in Styria, with traditional ingredients such as juniper berries, complex pepper aromas and fine lemon and cardamon, creatively rounded off with a fine hint of truffle. The New Western Style category was therefore the right platform for reinterpreting creativity and the courage to ‘be different’.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was awarded to BillionBars Trüffel Dry Gin.