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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.

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).

Freimut Spirits – Vodka with an original taste

The new premium vodka with a name that speaks volumes. Freimut (‘frankness’) breaks with tradition and has a mild taste of rye – rather unusual for the industry. “I asked myself whether almost endless distillation processes or filtering through diamonds or gold really helped produce a better taste”, says Florian Renschin. The businessman from Wiesbaden is a perfectionist who doesn’t simply accept the status quo, but questions everything. This caused him to produce a vodka himself, which matches his demands and his passion for high-quality spirits.
“When I took on the task of making a really good vodka, ‘made in Germany’, it quickly became clear that I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own”, he says. “That is why I looked for a partner who shared my vision of a new, tastier vodka, which can convey the character of the rye as much as possible. The secret to perfect vodka is to use just a few, high-quality raw materials and to have complete influence on all production phases.” The North German Champagne Rye from the Niederlausitzer Heideland region, an ancient strain, was basically the only ingredient for Freimut vodka. 30 percent is prepared in a specialised Bavarian malthouse, the rest of the grain goes directly to the distillery, is crushed shortly before the mash is prepared and added to the malt of the same type. Fermentation takes four times longer than industrially produced vodka, which is how the spicy flavour and the subtle sweetness develop. Soft spring water from the Nordenau slate mine is used to bring it down to a drinking strength of 40 percent alcohol by volume. Following the motto ‘as natural as possible’, all ingredients carry the EU organic certificate and come from Germany, so that transport distances are also kept short.

At the World Spirits Award, the Freimut Vodka was awarded silver.