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).

Konkani Distillery: Handcrafted gin with Indian roots

The team at the young distillery in Petershausen were inspired for this gin while on holiday in Goa on the west coast of India – a place to unwind, with dream beaches. The fresh and fruity mango drinks that you can buy on every corner are part of this. This taste experience prompted the creation of a distillate that gives everyone a holiday feeling for a while – a modern New Western Dry Gin with an ‘Indian profile’. The ingredients include tamarind, Litsea cubeba and turmeric, angelica and of course juniper, rounded off with mango and a tangy, fruity touch. The botanicals are processed by hand at Destille Kaltenthaler in Westhofen. You will not find industrial mass goods here, it is about filling dedication and lightness into bottles and providing them to people looking for an individual product.

Since language is the essence of communal living, the language of Goa became the namesake of this gin: Konkani. A mandala was chosen for the bottle design, taking up and representing the essence of botanicals, spices and fruits. In summary, this gin with Indian roots is intended to accompany the moments in life when we are gripped by yearning for a getaway, no matter whether it is on a fun evening, at a garden party or as a guest gift. One can always find an excuse to leave everyday stress behind and to switch off for a while.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was awarded to KONKANI GOA INSPIRED DRY GIN.