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Die Brau- & Brennwerkstatt: Great taste from the Swabian Forest

The ‘distillery workshop’ in Welzheim is a handcrafted masterpiece, designed and modified especially according to the wishes and requirements of master brewer Mark Schlaipfer. After over 25 years of experience in the industry and many years of distilling fine spirits, he began to produce gin in 2016. The aim is for straightforward and good products with a connection to the region, the Welzheim Forest, as the quality of a gin depends largely on the spices and flavour carriers. With great love for detail the recipes are fine-tuned, fir tree shoots collected and herbs selected. Very deliberately, only small batches are produced, carefully and without rushing – but with lots of love.

After the High Fir Welzheimer Wald Dry Gin, new creations such as the High Fir Summer Edition, High Fir Pimped Peach Gin and Waldfee Liqueur were developed.
The new Barbar London Dry Gin with eleven botanicals is another product with an interesting connection to the region. Welzheim is located at the “Limes”, the frontier wall between the Germanic and Roman empires. Cultural exchange also occurred here, and the cuisine was enriched by both cultures. Thus this gin is a combination of Mediterranean herbs, local spices and fruits such as apple and elderberry. In addition, almost forgotten spices, such as fenugreek seeds, are macerated. The result is a Mediterranean, fruity combination with a peppery sharpness.

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

Svedka - Hot parties with a touch of cool Sweden

Where there is a party, there is Svedka - whether it be on Broadway, in Hollywood or in Berlin. The stars and starlets love this Swedish vodka: fans include Sting, Paris Hilton, Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzmann, Gwyneth Paltrow, Melanie Trump, Kate Moss and many more.

The secret behind the flavour of Svedka is rooted in centuries of Swedish tradition. High quality wheat forms the basis (1.5 kg per litre) which is then distilled five times. The process takes over 40 hours. The result is so smooth that it does not require filtering. The purest of spring waters are used in the master blending process. The result is a gentle freshness. Four flavoured vodkas are also offered in addition to the pure vodka: citron, clementine, raspberry and vanilla.

Svedka Vodka is the fastest growing Swedish brand of vodka worldwide. It was launched onto the market in 1998 and in 2007 was taken over by Constellation Brands together with its brand owner Spirits Marque One LLC, based in New York. In the USA, this cool Swedish vodka spread through the bars and nightclubs like wildfire, supported by a trendy advertising campaign entitled "Happy Hour in America" with slogans such as "Make Cocktails, not War", "Mix liberally, drink conservatively", "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happy Hour" and "Conserve Energy, drink sitting down". Futuristic cocktail recipes such as the "Peeping Android" and "2033" have also played a part. "2033" was chosen because Svedka has been "predicted" to be the most popular vodka in the world in that very year.

The products scored well at the World-Spirits Award: the "pure" vodka won a double gold and there was also gold for the "Clementine Flavored" and "Citron Flavored" as well as silver for the "Raspberry Flavored".

2B Hemp Gin: Styrian gin experience

Two visionaries, Armin Breinl (doctor, drink creator, musician) and Wolfgang Thomann (gin maker), have created a completely new gin experience with real hemp powder: 2B HEMP GIN (inspired by AEIJST). On 17th November 2018, the two invited guests to the first tasting of 2B HEMP GIN in the AEIJST GIN distillery in St. Nikolai in the Sausal Valley.

Made from organic juniper berries, this innovative gin has an impressive, mild and fruity taste and a typical hemp note. Due to its unique aroma, it not only tastes good neat, but also creates a ‘wow’ effect in cocktails – as proven in the long drink Styrian Pale Gin AEIJST refined with 2B HEMP.

For thousands of years, hemp has been grown as a valuable plant, be it for rope, fabric, paper or as an active ingredient in ointments and tinctures. Hemp has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, yet recently has been demonised as an addictive drug and has suffered under its ensuing prohibition, originating in the USA. These days hemp is regaining importance and is being used more as a luxury food as well as in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The Lifestyle Trading company, run by Armin Breinl, is an innovative beverage producer, which is already known amongst trade professionals for its sugar-free ‘func- tional fruit drinks’. The drinks have a high fruit content (more than 50 per cent) and additional natural, vital substances and have an energising, relaxing and regenerative effect.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for 2B HEMP GIN.

Edward Snell – Whisky from South Africa

Edward Snell founded a trading company in Durban in 1848, from which the oldest spirit company in South Africa developed over 160 years. Following an eventful history, the company is now once again in the hands of the family. Besides their own brands they also sell numerous local and international drink brands, mostly in various markets in Africa and the Middle East.

The wide range of products includes whisky, brandy, vodka, rum, gin, tequila and cognac. One outstanding label is Firstwatch Whisky with its new look, a striking, square bottle design. Consumer demand for a whisky with an American taste profile has been perfected over time and is presented today as a balanced blend of the finest imported rye and grain. Whether pure, on the rocks or mixed – its diversity makes it popular with many different target groups and successful in one of the largest spirit segments in South Africa.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Firstwatch Whisky.