World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

ReGINerate – Gin across the spectrum

The innovative ReGINerate product range has an impressively wide-ranging gin spectrum. The driving force behind the project is Martin Kern, a trained media businessman and lateral starter, who brings a passion for gin, love of detail and good taste with him. His partner, Ernst Deselaers, a farmer and distiller, stands by his side with his know-how, experience from his own distillery, and with the necessary cool-headedness and diligence. This helped Martin to fully immerse himself in his craft, to understand it, become inspired by it, interpret it, and then continue to develop it. After nearly 18 months it happened – ReGINerate was launched on the market.

Martin Kern discovered gin in 2012, and, with his decision to change careers, it also became his passion. First it was ‘Learning by Burning’, whereby each distilling process was a learning process that expanded his knowledge and experience. Then he tackled the art of seasoning – which aromas work with each other, and which do not. Building on this, he developed some impressive recipes. The necessary alcohol comes from wheat, which Ernst Deselaers grows on his own farm.

And this is the gin trio: with Silk City Dry the classic juniper tone is central, accompanied by lemon verbena, Szechuan pepper and ginger, nothing more is necessary; the fruity, complex, new interpretation of Artisan Gin Made The Slow Way shows that gin is more than just a visit to the herb garden or the spice drawer; and Artisan Gin Made The Sloe Way is the first real sloe gin in the world.

At the World Spirits Award, the trio stood up to the test – 3 times gold.

Diwisa – Craftsmanship & high-tech

Diwisa is a family business from Central Switzerland. Founded in 1918, it is now one of Europe’s most modern distilleries. Distilling takes place in the traditional copper vessels where craftsmanship is combined with high-tech elements. In addition to perfecting the product range and quality management process, the focus is on innovation and customer satisfaction with a 24-hour service on offer, all possible thanks to the streamlined structure, fast decision-making processes and unusually close proximity to the market. With an annual turnover of around 160 million francs in 32 countries, Diwisa is the number one on the Swiss spirits market.

‘The Swiss Factory’ combines tradition and high-tech under one roof. Each year, up to 8,000 tons of fresh fruit are processed at Switzerland’s largest must storage facility of 82 tanks. The ecological waste water treatment plant saves up to 100,000 litres of water per day – and is therefore Europe’s most modern distillery with a 50% energy recovery rating. 10,000 bottles pass through the high-tech filling process per hour.

Diwisa combines tradition and ‘jet-set’ under one roof with its broad product range. The fruit spirits from Original Willisauer added to a ‘Kafi Luz’ (coffee with fruit schnapps) are now a key feature of many traditional and cultural events. The diverse range of colours and flavours of TROJKA impress many partygoers while fans of premium products favour Xellent Swiss Vodka, Swiss Edelweiss Gin or Château du Breuil Calvados.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for the white Rum Escape 7 and Xellent Edelweiss Gin and silver for the Escape 7 Rum Anejo Reserva and La Valadiere Poire William.

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).

MBG International Premium Brands – Brands with added value

“We Love Liquids.” This slogan has accompanied MBG on its worldwide path of success since it was founded in 1993 under the name P.O.S. Marketing + Vertrieb GmbH: Strong brands have been established around the world in nearly 60 countries, with innovative own brands, renowned retail brands, great ideas and a lot of energy. With over 250 employees, the MBG Group currently generates over € 200 million and, every year, more than a million hectolitres are produced. The portfolio in Germany includes 12 own brands and 6 retail brands (from non-alcoholic drinks to low proof drinks to wines & spirits) for 90,000 customers.

“Our recipe for successful brands is the mixture of passion, conviction and knowledge of the market. If all goes well, names and products become new worlds which consumers love. Success is not always predictable, which means that courage is needed above all. The right moment has to be found and hard work put in, just like with a hit single: some are one hit wonders while others become classics.” Little can be added to this definition from Managing Director Andreas W. Herb. From the MBG Group headquarters in Paderborn, a great deal of expertise makes successful brands, tailored to the respective target group and the market segment. Many brands that are well known on shop shelves and in the gastronomy sector have played a role in the history of the company.

Participation in the World Spirits Award yielded gold for Dos Mas Nasty Nuts Shot.