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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).

RhochzweiLiquids: Two master brewers from Ulm with gin in their sights

Korbinian Rau and Dominik Russ met in 2013 in the master school in Ulm. They then each went their own way, workwise, but in 2017 they found themselves working together in the same brewery. As a hobby they started to experiment with a small, homemade pot still. The results were sampled by friends and found to be rather drinkable. Their main profession as master brewers enabled the two of them to improve their distillates with creativity and passion, and so they decided to start up their own small company in February 2018.

RhochzweiLiquids Gbr was the beginning of turning their hobby into a side business. The sales figures are still small but are growing healthily – and the first product, Ulmer Ginger Gin, has received posi-tive feedback in the region. The gin stands out amongst the huge range because some of the ingredi-ents they use are ones you would expect to find in a brewery, and this appeals to the whole Ulm bar scene. Their aim is not to grow quickly, but rather to keep the hobby as such and to consistently guar-antee the highest quality with regional ingredients and passion.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Ulmer Ginger Gin and Ulmer Ginger Gin Winter Edition.

The Sweet Potato Spirit Company: Spirits from the sweet potato

Everyone knows the sweet potato as a side dish to a juicy steak, but who would think of it as a basis for a high-quality spirit? First, someone has to have the idea, and then they have to somehow raise this rather ‘modest’ root vegetable to a higher level. To give the orange pulp a fiery character, a few ‘tailor-made’ ingredients are needed, of course. This British company in Worcestershire produces spirits with spirit. Each product starts its journey on the farm, where only the best sweet potatoes are harvested by hand. In further processing, the experienced distillation team combines the methods passed down through generations with modern techniques. The wide-ranging product range impresses even the most discerning of gourmets.

For the mild Moonshine (with which everything began), vanilla, peach and apricot peel and a dash of caramel blend well. For the aromatic Spiced Rum, ginger and lemon blossom create the freshness, then cherry and peach round it off. The exhilarating Orange Gin Liqueur combines London Dry with cane sugar and orange zest. The fruity Raspberry Gin Liqueur is juicy with a delicate raspberry aroma. The Lavender Gin Liqueur has a distinctive character of freshly picked lavender. The London Dry Gin is characterised by fresh juniper notes with a touch of coriander. The smooth vodka gets a gentle aroma with vanilla and a hint of lemon. There’s no doubt that the colourful spirits are also fun to mix.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Gin Krishna, and silver for Espresso Rum Liqueur and Honey Moonshine Liqueur.