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).

Aldi Ireland: Gin and whiskey in retail

Aldi Ireland has several top products in its spirit range: Boyle’s Gin from the Blackwater Distillery and Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery, in addition, Mo Chara Passionfruit & Mango Gin from the Old Carrick Mill.

The Blackwater Distillery has been an Aldi partner since 2016 and developed the private label Boyle’s Gin exclusively for the Irish and British retail market. The product volume of the Blackwater Distillery for Aldi has risen strongly in recent years, whereby 140,800 bottles of the gin series were sold in 2018. The successful gin brand is manufactured in Blackwater Valley, West Waterford, with selected imported ingredients as well as regional apples, blackcurrants and elderflower. CEO Peter Mulryan – former TV producer and author of the book ‘The Whiskeys of Ireland’ – explains, “The partnership with Aldi has helped us to increase turnover enormously, and also to have the security to invest and expand. This includes on-site bottling facilities and a visitor centre.” Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery got its name from the region in County Cork where the malted barley comes from, and is only manufactured in small batches. The business was founded in 2003 by childhood friends who started out with only two small stills they had bought in Switzerland. Now the largest distillery in the country, it currently employs over 80 staff and exports to around 70 countries.

At the World Spirits Award, there was Gold for Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey and Boyle’s Gin, and Silver for Boyle’s Sloe & Damson Gin and Ardfallen Whiskey.

Brennerei Alfred Legenstein: Fine brandies from the Tyrolean Oberland

“Fine brandies from different fruits and berries, predominantly from the Tyrolean Oberland, are my great passion. I strive to bring the full aroma of selected and fully ripened fruits to the distillate, without the use of any additives.” Alfred Legenstein knows what he is talking about – he has his own small distillery in the cellar of his house. The mash is stored at a constant 16°C in a cool room to ensure controlled fermentation, and then it is distilled using either the column distilling or double distilling methods. In the comfortable lounge there is enough room for tasting (by appointment, for up to 10 people).

The fruity product range includes apple, damson, Williams pear, cherry, apricot, mulberry, Mirabelle plum, gentian, raspberry, plum, rowanberry, sour cherry and fruit brandy. There is also damson liqueur and raspberry liqueur. Anyone looking for a special gift can choose distillates in a wooden case with a personal inscription. SIGNUM is a special distillate: a joint product of Tyrolean fine brandy sommeliers, a cuvée of 17 different domestic apple varieties, matured in oak barrels.

The World Class Distillery 2023 (Distillery of the Year 2023 – Silver, 100% Distillates) received double gold for Aronia Brandy, gold for Quince Brandy and Cherry Brandy, and silver for Gentian Brandy and Blackberry Brandy.

Matheus Pálinka – Fruit brandies based on ancient Hungarian traditions

Matheus is a model sophisticated Hungarian company and its products bear the “Hungaricum” title of honour. Only fruits grown, harvested and distilled in Hungary are used in the distillates. “Pálinka” – the colloquial term for schnapps – has a long-standing tradition in Hungary as the climatic conditions produce very flavoursome ripe fruit.

The history of Matheus Pálinka began with a booklet which emerged at an auction. And what secrets did it contain? As long ago as the 16th century, Franciscan monks in the northernmost corner of Hungary (now the Szatmár-Bereg administrative district) were producing high-percentage fruit brandies which they refined to create healing essences using herbs and spices. The production of the modern Pálinka products is based on these old recipes which form part of the country’s culture and authentic Hungarian gastronomy.

The brandies in the ranges “Matheus Spirit” (60% vol.) and “Matheus Classic” (50% vol.) are left to mature in mulberry wood casks for at least three months, which emphasises the silky flavour and the aroma of the fruit. The “Matheus Fruits” (44% vol.) are unfiltered distillates matured on a bed of dried fruits, combining modern technology with old traditions. The wide range of products includes apple, apricot, elderberry, cherry, plum, quince, sour cherry, blackthorn, blackcurrant and Williams pear.

For the 15 samples submitted, Matheus received four golds and eleven silvers at the World-Spirits Award – ranking 13th in the fruit brandy category as a Master-Class Distillery.