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Garagenbrenner Wöhrer – Expertise and continuity

Some 35 years ago, Manfred Wöhrer started out as an amateur schnapps distiller, using rented equipment. Today, this ‘garage distiller’ and quality fanatic is one of the great masters of the distillery scene. In the past, he has applied his profound expertise to producing high-quality brandies in national and international tasting sessions as a former taster and valued member of the jury.

Manfred Wöhrer pursued his career as a master builder until 2010 when he handed over the construction firm to his son, Christoph. Now retired, he has more time to dedicate to distilling – and with growing success! Based on a secure foundation, he has built up a wide range of expressive distillates which are typical of their varieties and all bear his unique signature. No nonsense but classy, free from fancy names or marketing gimmicks.

Master distiller Manfred Wöhrer monitors all of the work processes in person, supported by family and friends: from the selection of the fruits and identification of the right time to harvest, to the selective determination of the distillery process, filling and packing. Annual production totals approx. 4,000 bottles, distributed across 16 to 18 different products. Particular emphasis is placed on the quality increase of the traditional brandies: apple, Williams pear, apricot, damson and cherry. Manfred Wöhrer has been working at a new distillery since 2005 – a bright room for working, tasting and shopping, where visitors can acquire first-hand knowledge at distilling demonstrations and tasting seminars.

Classified as a World Class Distillery 2018, there was double gold für Zwetschke 48 Reserva fassgelagert (barrel-aged damson) (Spirit of the Year 2018), gold for apricot and damson, and silver for yellow Williams pear, red Williams pear and sour cherry.

Rhumerie de Chamarel - Rhumerie de Chamarel – A newcomer with vision

This high-quality rum from the island of Mauritius is produced in line with ecological guidelines. The products are distributed in Austria by the company Wind GmbH, based in Traiskirchen (www.wind-plast.at).

The road leads through extensive pineapple plantations and fields of sugar cane up to the distillery at an altitude of 300 m in the South-West of the island. Designed by a renowned architect, the building is elegant and authentic and a fine example of modern construction with its natural materials such as wood, stone and water. The comprehensive concept also incorporates the L’Alchimiste restaurant where up to 80 guests can savour the sophisticated regional cuisine. At the “Sugar Cane Spirit” boutique, various types of rum are on offer (White Rum, Le Coeur de Chauffe (fine brandy), Rum Paille (stored in wooden casks), Rum Arrange (flavoured with fruits and spices) as well as an exclusive clothing range, hand-made products and a small jewellery collection.

The location and climate of the fertile valley promote the growth and quality of the sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested by hand in the early hours of the morning and processed at the mill within four hours. The fields are not normally burnt, as is usually the case, to make harvesting easier. Even when distilling at the highest modern levels of technology, nothing is wasted: the bagasse – the fibrous remnants of the sugar production process – is burnt to obtain energy. The chimney contains the very latest smoke filters and the ash is used to fertilise the fields.

The company yet again impressed at the World-Spirits Award, with one gold and four silvers.

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.

Beim World-Spirits Award 2025 gab es Gold für Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey, Dúchas Irish Whiskey, Silver für Ardfallen Triple Cask Whiskey, Boyle‘s Sloe & Damson Gin, Dolmen Honey Moonshine.