World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Burgunderhof – A high-flying young entrepreneur

When Julica Renn gets in her helicopter and flies over the vineyards, it is clear that the former wine princess is no cliché. Together with her parents she runs the Burgunderhof, the first certified climate-neutral and ecologically run winery and hotel on Lake Constance. Since 2016, she has been the managing director and equal partner of the winery, the distillery and the hotel, and with her unusual start-up she has ushered in the generation change to the Burgunderhof with a flourish: MILE HIGH 69® is the name of the protected brand of her exclusive gin label. The laborious batch production is worth it, the end result is a very small edition of a great product – stylishly presented in aluminium containers with lots of 1920s flair: a homage to the pioneer times of the famous Dornier flying boats, which conquered the world from Lake Constance.

These days, Julica Renn conquers the gin world and benefits from over 300 years of family tradition. The standards are high – father Heiner Renn is known for fine fruit brandies and wines. His daughter has inherited his sense of business and fine sense of taste. In the secret recipe of her gin composition you will find juniper, sweet almond, lemon balm and elderflower, as well as kumquats, pine buds, lime and inflorescence from Müller-Thurgau. In the unfiltered distillation, the ethereal components are optimally released and the aromas elegantly highlighted – 19 natural botanicals and pure Lake Constance water promise a pleasurable experience, which Julica Renn presents impeccably: online, on Facebook and in the web shop.

At the World Spirits Award, the gin flew straight to gold.

Fabian Vögtle Distillates – Experimenting to head in new directions

Whilst some people are born with a sunny disposition, others are born with fire in their bellies. Fabian Vögtle was born with a passion for alcohol – mainly the production of it, of course. As attractive as it may sound, there are strict legal regulations for hobby distillers. For the production of spirits, you need special distilling rights. Fabian Vögtle was lucky in this respect, as schnapps production is a tradition in his family. Since he inherited his grandfather’s distilling rights in 2008, the full-time wine-grower has been distilling his own brandies and liqueurs, such as the Williams Christ pear, Mirabellenwasser (mirabelle), Zibärtle brandy, grape marc brandy from Gewürztraminer and wine brandy in oak barrels. The original craft has been retained by the distiller from Vogtsburg: distilling takes place in the old distillery, which is heated by hand with wood. The distillates mature in demijohns in wooden barrels, no cold treatment or filtration takes place. Soft spring water from the Glottertal valley is used to dilute the brandies to drinking strength.

These days, the focus is on gin, because this can be produced all year round. Fabian Vögtle’s ‘dialect’ is his own interpretation of the popular drink, which combines family tradition and innovation. It contains an exotic melange of a total of 17 natural botanicals, including juniper, aniseed and coriander, as well as orange and lemon peel. The annual highlight is a limited gin selection of 499 bottles – something special for gin lovers!

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Mundart Kaiserstuhl Dry Gin.

Prevelon: Premium vodka by order of the Kremlin

Kremlin Premium Vodka was created as the official drink for all diplomatic receptions and banquets at the Kremlin and was intended as the hallmark of high-ranking events. The decision in favour of the most traditional Russian drink was unanimous. It was only produced on special order and in limited amounts. The first large batch of this ‘protocol’ vodka was ordered in February 1945 for the Yalta Conference. Kremlin Award Grand Premium came on the market in 2011 and is exported to 38 countries, and in many of them it holds the top position in the ultra-premium vodka category. Since 2016, the product range has included Kremlin Award Classic, which enjoys great popularity amongst all partners.

Two products have been added to the product range. Kremlin Award Organic is based on alcohol that is produced from the highest quality organic wheat, and on natural drinking water. The vodka passes through a multi-stage purification through pure birchwood charcoal. The alcohol for Kremlin Award Vintage is made from organic grains from the same harvest. The wheat grains are stored in a grain silo until they reach their physiological maturity in order to get a high-quality base product. The ‘luxury alcohol’ is then mixed with natural drinking water and, after purification, is granted a resting period. Production is limited to the year stated on the label.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Kremlin Award Organic and Kremlin Award Vintage.