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Limomacher: Regionally produced – socially labelled

Limomacher is a young Bregenz enterprise, according to their own definition “excellent in graphics, design, customer service, lemonade production, social involvement and coffee drinking”. However, a look at the brief biographies of the four-person team reveals quite a bit about their wide-ranging qualifications. All lemonades are produced regionally in Vorarlberg according to their own recipes. Short pathways right up until labelling – also labels for private customers and companies on request – reinforce sustainability, along with filling exclusively in glass bottles. The labelling, as well as the whole warehousing, are handled by Lebenshilfe Vorarlberg, a support organisation for people with disabilities. This is an indication that social thinking has been of great importance from the beginning.

At the beginning of 2018, the ‘Franz von Durst’ brand started in Spar shops, followed by the start-up shelf at Metro. The company developed a gin along with a tonic water for this purpose, as the first manufacturer in retailing that offers both as a one-stop shop. The gin that is also regionally produced goes perfectly with the tonic water and its animating and aromatic concept offers an exceptionally fruity drinking experience. Aside from the juniper base, five further botanicals play a role: angelica root provides a slight tanginess and supports the homogenous taste; orange peel is characterised by a range of aromatic substances and a fine hint of citrus; liquorice provides a complex sweetness with a slightly earthy note; elderberry has an intensive and refreshing taste; and hops gives it a special something.

“We are delighted that the Vorarlberg locals have received our gin so well and that we can expand step by step also into other provinces,” say the two young entrepreneurs.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was achieved by Franz von Durst Gin, and silver by Franz von Durst Dry Gin Wild.

Sauerländer Edelbrennerei: From hobby to successful business

Fine brandies, spirits and liqueurs have been produced in Kallenhardt for the last 20 years. The product range has been rounded off by Thousand Mountains® Mc Raven Single Malt Whisky. What started out as a hobby has developed into a successful family business. Behind it all is epicurean and businessman, Ulrich Wolfkühler, and a trip to the southern German fruit distilleries towards the end of the 1990s. Some rather poor brandies led to the declaration “We can do better!” and the decision to build up a distillery with family friends, the Wolfkühler family and the Mülheims family, to create natural products without additives – by hand.

The adventure began by acquiring the distilling rights in the year 2000. Raw materials from the region were sourced and a well was built for extracting water of the best quality. They started with a 200-litre plant in a double garage, then, in April 2016, they transferred to a renovated old sawmill. The acquisition of a 1,200-litre pot still plant made the whisky dream come true. Since then, the future of the company has been shaped by a new 1,000-litre plant for fruit distillation and an extension for bottling, dispatch and bottle storage. An expansion of the visitors’ experience area is planned as well as a barrel storage area. Traditional artisanship is combined with innovation, passion, skill and patience. The team of three with the highest demands on quality and taste are a sign that the success story is just beginning.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Thousand Mountains Mc Raven Single Malt Whisky.

Müller von Kralik: Porky46 – London Dry Gin from Lake Constance

Some years ago, Alexander Müller von Kralik started to devote himself to artisanal spirits in the little town of Immenstaad at Lake Constance. He is directly descended from famous Bohemian glass manufacturers and values the purity of products. After living near London for several years, gin was not unfamiliar to him. But he found most products on the market too simple, too rough and sharp to be enjoyed pure. He therefore set himself the goal of creating a purist London Dry Gin, without adding flavouring or even sugar, absolutely clean and smooth.

‘Lola’, with which distilling is very slow, was produced by the internationally renowned coppersmith Arnold Holstein in the neighbouring village of Markdorf. A traditional London recipe is combined with rare plants from around the world. The 46 manually processed organic botanicals include juniper berries from Tuscany, coriander seeds from England, pepper from Madagascar and Asia, and blossoms and herbs from the Lake Konstanz region. Distilling takes place in small batches of around 150 bottles. After a resting time of more than four months, Porky46 is reduced to 46 volume percent with soft water from Lake Constance, infused with crystal clear alpine streams. There is no filtering before bottling. Every bottle is corked by hand and sealed with wax. Over a further two months, the full taste unfolds, before the handcrafted gin is put on the market. Connoisseurs enjoy it simply on ice with a slice of lemon – or as a traditional gin & tonic.

At the World Spirits Award, silver was awarded to Porky46.