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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).

Roust Hungary: Affordable luxury on the spirits market

Roust was founded in 1992 by the Russian businessman Roustam Tariko and quickly developed into a leading business group in the sale of premium spirits brands. One of the world’s leading vodka producers, the company is present in more than 80 countries. Roust owns production plants and distribution centres in Hungary, Russia and Italy. The comprehensive portfolio includes the flagship vodka brands of Russian Standard, Green Mark, Parliament and Zhuravli.

Thanks to its extensive knowledge in sales and marketing and its commitment to responsible alcohol consumption, Roust Hungary has become the leading supplier on the domestic spirits market. The largest premium spirits company in Hungary also sells the Royal, Zubrówka, Russian Standard, Gancia, Grants, Jägermeister and Metaxa brands.

For years, Royal Vodka has maintained its position as the most popular and well-known vodka brand in Hungary, and also remains market leader in terms of volume and turnover. Royal Vodka is produced using natural ingredients, from the grain to the well water, which contributes to its mild taste.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Royal Original Vodka, and bronze for Royal Raspberry Liqueur.

Der Zweiger: Synergy of a strong family

The Zweigers run an honest, artisanal business whose top priority is the high quality of their products: “Quality is our philosophy, and we feel committed to it. Innovation and constant quality controls ensure exclusive products of the highest quality.” This ambitious motto has followed the dynamic company into its current third generation. “More than 90 percent of a distillate’s quality is determined by the quality of the fruits. Even brilliant distillers won’t succeed with mediocre fruits. Good distilling is a craft, and a great deal of experience and feeling is required.”

The product range includes the finest brandies, harmonious cream liqueurs, gin, full-bodied whiskies, as well as frizzante sparkling wines and craft beers. In addition, there is a vineyard area covering 15 hectares where Pinot Blanc, Schilcher and Sauvignon Blanc are cultivated. The highly aromatic brandies are created by means of an elaborate distillation method. The most important aspect is the quality of the raw materials, which are carefully selected and processed. The products can be sampled in Gießenberg near Mooskirchen or at special events (www.zweiger.at), and tours of the company which include regional delicacies can be organised upon advance reservation. The Schnapsothek with its wood and glass interior invites guests to taste the products in a welcoming atmosphere.

The World Class Distillery 2023 (Distillery of the Year 2023 – Silver, Bitters & Liqueurs) received double gold for Steirischer Eierlikör aus Bio-Eiern (egg liqueur) and Schoko-Kokos Cremelikör (chocolate-coconut cream liqueur) (World Spirits Award 2023 & Spirit of the Year 2023), gold for Steirischer Single Malt Whiskey, DER Almkräuter (herbs), Kürbiskern Cremelikör (pumpkin seed cream liqueur), Smoked OAK Single Malt Whiskey and Steirischer Marillen Cremelikör (apricot cream liqueur), and silver for Tonkabohne Cremelikör (tonka bean cream liqueur) and Bitter.

BBerryshka: Juniper specialities from Slovenia

In the 1950s, the Novo Mesto forestry enterprise started to produce essential oils from fir trees. At the start of the 1990s, the Kenda family took over the old distillery and specialised in the manufacturing of essential oils from juniper berries. The renovation of the distillery allowed the widening of the product range. Logical conclusion: when a lot of juniper berries are available, other products can also be realised, especially juniper brandy and gin. With a selector that works with high-speed cameras and compressed air, the berries are selected according to their colour and shape, the cleaner removes impurities such as needles, twigs, insects, dust, etc. and sorts the berries according to size. Then, a mill breaks them down into a fine grain, and in the dryer the humidity level is set for various purposes.

The London Dry Gin was one of the first of its kind in Slovenia and the juniper brandy that is made only from fermented berries matures for three years in oak barrels. Today all the products have organic certification, which additionally ensures the quality of the raw ingredients. Apart from juniper spirits, the product range comprises fruit liqueurs and soon also the first Slovenian whisky. In addition, handmade chocolates are produced, as the family enterprise owns a chocolaterie. It is on account of this that many visitors come to the little town of Obrh to get to know the variety of products.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Berryshka Purfl Blue Gin and Berryshka Bio Brinjevec, and silver to Berryshka London Dry Gin, Berryshka Gin'N Berry and Berryshka Staran Brinjevec.