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Pfalzdrusel Gin: Let a wonderful friendship beGIN

The friends Philipp, Paul and Tobias set themselves the goal of creating a gin that is 100% local to the Palatinate region. It conveys a zest for life and is fun: interesting and expressive, but simple and uncomplicated. It therefore had to be an organic gin. Spruce needles, lavender, rosemary and nettles represent the oasis of wellbeing of the Palatinate Forest. Blueberries, orange, lemon and bitter orange ensure freshness and lightness. Juniper brings the typical character into the glass. “That is the Palatinate region with all its facets and tastes, characterised by our way of life, culture and love of our homeland.”

The mascot of Pfalzdrusel Gin is the fairy-tale creature Dallas. One sunny Saturday, a little otter from Ottersheim ran through the forest to Bellheim. On the way it met a dog. The two of them hit it off and made their way to Kleinfischlingen, where the dog knew a funny fish. They had great fun and did not notice an old witch sneaking up, who wanted to put an end to the racket the three were making. She uttered a magic spell: three are now one! There was thunder and lightning, fog rose. When it receded, the witch had disappeared. There was also no trace of the dog, otter or fish. Instead, there lay a little animal with an otter’s head, a fish’s tail and dog’s legs. At the same time, the three friends Philipp, Tobias and Paul were on a merry wine tour when they discovered the little animal. They took it home, gave it the name Dallas and called the new species ‘Pfalzdrusel’.

Pfalzdrusel Gin achieved gold at the World Spirits Award.

Krugmann Markenspirituosen: Tradition meets Zeitgeist

This traditional spirit manufacturer’s roots go all the way back to the century before last. When the Krugmann family founded the distillery on their farm in 1867 it was the first business in Meinerzhagen. Entrepreneurship and commercial spirit united with farm heritage to create something new. For six generations, the company was family-run, and since the mid-1990s it has been run by a management team which meets the changing market with innovative ideas.

The handcrafted art of distilling was always the top priority at Krugmann, building on the knowledge, experi-ence and passion of the distillers trained within the company. In the development of new spirits, tradition meets zeitgeist. Strictly guarded recipes are the foundation for many specialities. These are accompanied by the passion for experimentation to create new taste experiences. The result is a wide range of products with over 200 spirits, which also stand out thanks to their bottle design.

Preserving what has been tried and tested whilst exploring new paths in product development is also re-flected in the new products from the ‘Premium Enjoyment’ series: three barrel-matured Korn specialities and a gin which reflects the company’s skills in having worked with juniper for over 150 years.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Korn Cognac Barrel and Gin 150.

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.