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Proud, Strong & Noble Gin: As unusual as its name

Behind the name there is a gin newcomer, the serial entrepreneur and sales expert Martin Limbeck, based in Wesel on the Lower Rhine. With his own spirit, the gin lover fulfilled a long-standing wish, founding the company in 2020. His gin distilled in southern Germany with juniper that is cultivated there. Further botanicals are orange and lemon zest, cinnamon, cardamom and lemongrass, as well as apple wedges that stand for the homeland of the gin. The gin is 100% manual work, distilled three times under vacuum and refined with exceptionally soft water. A procedure unique in Germany gives it an extra special something. The outlet tap of the still is silver-coated, so the alcohol distils at just 40°C, which is significantly more gentle compared to a classical copper pot still.

“A gin that smells and tastes good is only half the story. But as a seller I know: the name, appearance and feel of a product are at least equally important! I wanted a name that is unusual and distinctive.” The gin has a sleek look in a matte black bottle, with an eye-catching, shiny, silver metal label showing four poodles. This is not the result of a creative design competition but they are the loyal companions of Martin Limbeck and his wife Andrea. As lively brand ambassadors, they attract attention on the website and on the brand’s social media channels.

At the World Spirits Award, silver was awarded to Proud, Strong & Noble Gin.

LIEBELEI: Organic liqueur manufactured in Chemnitz

Juergen Lange and Thomas Rebsch are the creative minds behind the small but outstanding production facility in Chemnitz, where organic egg liqueur is manufactured through careful manual work, 130,000 bottles a year: along with the bestseller ‘Pur’ made of organic eggs and bourbon vanilla, also the creamy ‘Schokokuss’ made with three types of cocoa, ‘Spektakulatius’ with its very own blend of spices and the ‘Flotte Orange’ with a hint of organic orange oil. Natural ingredients are exclusively used, without any aromatic substances, colouring agents or additives.

It all started with a romance across many kilometres, during which homemade egg liqueur was given as mutual gifts by Juergen and Thomas. Over the course of time, the recipes were refined and they decided to let family and friends enjoy them too. This heralded the birth of LIEBELEI LIKÖRE and ‘Pur’ soon developed into the ‘must have’ for enthusiasts. The egg liqueur was offered for the first time in 2017 at the Chemnitz Christmas market and quickly sold out. Four weeks later, online sales were launched. Over the years, its presence and turnover has increased steadily and many contacts were forged, because the markets were an optimal multiplier – until they were all cancelled due to Covid. Luckily, the turnover shortfall could be largely compensated for online. In 2021, production was switched to organic. In the meantime, the products are listed at over 300 retailers and suppliers. The next goals are wholesalers and expansion to Austria and Switzerland. The team is growing and a new production building is being opened.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to the Liebelei organic egg liqueur Pur.

Klippenziege: New era in the world of gin

In December 2015, four friends captured the ‘spirit’ of an idea: they were thinking about gin. Nearly a year later a small batch was bottled by hand. The individuality of a gin lies in the combination of the botanicals, in this case it is the exotic selection: mate tea, goji berries, physalis and a hint of rose. The Klippenziege is a New Western Dry Gin, in which juniper plays the main role amongst the other botanicals.

It is produced in the Habbel Distillery, which guarantees excellent quality thanks to its experience – it was established in 1878 and is now in the family’s fourth generation. The former Korn distillery in Sprockhövel with adjoining farmland is now the largest fruit distillery in the Ruhr region, as a traditional manufacturer it stands out with its attention to detail. The entire manufacturing process at Klippenziege can also be observed on-site.

The bottle and the label are also special. Designer Levent Aydin drew it carefully by hand, and then digitalised it before perfecting it. First it is printed, then coated, then stamped and embossed. The elegant result stands for friendship, solidarity and love. Working together in a friendly and familiar atmosphere connects people with a passion for life who share one important belief: that the product should encourage people to slow down, allowing for mindful enjoyment.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Mate Dry Gin.