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Euelsberger Brennerei: Production in the Eifel region

Owner and master distiller Stephan Thomé runs the 2017 start-up in Dingdorf. He converted the old calf shed on his parents’ farm into a distillery. The name of the business comes from the Euelsberg mountainside, where the farm has a traditional orchard with tall trees growing apples, pears, damsons, Mirabelle plums, greengage plums and walnuts. In 2023, the distillery was extended by a unique GIN SCHOOL containing over 300 botanicals.

They produce fruit brandies, spirits, liqueurs and different categories of gin. In the development phase the distiller played around with over 120 herbs in his aroma lab. From the shortlist of twelve varieties, three were chosen for the first batch. In 2020, they added Gin #4 EIFEL with botanicals from the immediate vicinity. In 2022, Gin #5 SUMMER with mandarin, lemon and pepper took up the inspiration of Gin #1 PEPPER & LEMON, and rounded it off with cocoa bean and coriander. Each gin has its own individual note, from spicy and fresh to floral and oriental. In 2023, the first SLOE GIN was created. The basis is Gin #4 EIFEL, in which handpicked sloes are soaked and macerated for at least six months.

The botanicals from their own fields and from around the world are carefully selected and are of the same highest quality as those used in top restaurants and in homeopathy. Many ingredients are harvested by hand on organic farms. Every stage is carried out by hand as well. After the careful filtering and filling process, the gin is matured over months in steel barrels.

At the World Spirits Award, Gold was awarded to Euelsberger #2 Fifteen Flowers, and Silver to Euelsberger #4 Eifel.

Full Circle Craft Distillers: Proud of every drop

The distillery at the foot of Mount Makiling, in the lush tropical province of Laguna in the Philippines, was founded in 2018, and has placed the country on the global spirit map. In a certain sense the com-pany is a family heritage from 100 years ago, as the husband and wife team, Matthew and Laurie Westfall, consider Matthew’s grandfather as the inspiration for the project. He arrived in Manila in 1918 to work at the San Miguel Brewery.

With a fully-automatic, 450-litre copper still with state-of-the-art technology in a 5,000 square metre distillery complex, they concentrate on precision, excellence and authenticity. Full Circle is the first distillery in the Philippines to be open to the public, and the production is transparent and honest in every respect. The aim is to improve the standing of the local spirit industry through the involvement and support of true craftsmanship.

The Archipelago Botanical Gin is handmade using 28 botanicals, 22 of which are sourced from differ-ent locations in the Philippines. Emphasis is placed on the supply of local plants, to illustrate the beau-ty of the country – from grapefruits from Davao to pine buds from Sagada and Dalandan oranges from the province of Quezonbis to fresh mangos from the family farm in Dasol in the province of Pangasinan. In many ways the history of this refreshing tropical gin is the history of the Philippines.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Archipelago Botanical Gin and Archipelago Barrel Reserve Gin.

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.

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.