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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).

Tamborine Mountain Distillery – Original from the original

Visitors to the distillery owned by Michael and Alla Ward can explore this colourful and perhaps somewhat crazy world. The couple moved from Tasmania to Queensland in 1992 where they purchased 1.3 hectares of land in the backcountry of the Gold Coast, fascinated by the diversity of fruit growing here. Since they didn’t use any chemical sprays, the harvested fruits did not correspond to market requirements. So what to do with the large volume of fruit produced? Soon the solution was found: ferment and distil it!

Australia’s smallest pot still distillery has since achieved fame across the world: in Europe as well as the USA and Asia. The manufacture offers a very diverse programme of dozens of products: imaginative liqueur creations, fruit brandies, absinthe, aquavit, bitter, gin, grappa, pastis, rum, vodka and much more. Word of mouth and a media presence have ensured that the small yet refined company has become widely renowned, winning hundreds of international rewards.

Three ingredients determine the success of these sparkling personalities of the spirits world (in addition to passion and zest for life, of course): red volcanic soil, opulent fruits and fresh spring water. The distillation is carried out through the traditional method in small copper stills – with a small degree of technical improvisation. The equipment used is unique: the bottles are imported from Italy and France and hand-painted by Alla Ward. Her Russian background is reflected in this colourful artwork which combines to form a striking puzzle on the well-stacked shelves.

Some new products were presented at the World Spirits Award from the company’s colourful range and with great success: there was gold for the aquavit, silver for the Slivovitz (damson) and Bucku Whisky Liqueur, and bronze for the grappa.

Franco Fiorito: Limoncello from the Netherlands

With Fiorito, the Dutch brothers Benno and Franco Fiorito have created an exceptional Limoncello and fulfilled a dream at the same time. The recipe is based on an old family tradition which they became familiar with on a visit to the Italian island of Sicily. Back home, the first Limoncello was handmade at the kitchen table. From this moment on, a dinner with friends was always rounded off with homemade Limoncello.

They soon began to ask themselves whether the Limoncello should also be put on sale, and they decided to produce it in larger amounts. And so, while the hobby turned not only into a job but into a calling, the products continued to be handmade. The brand name Fiorito was born; an authentic product in a stylish, modern bottle. These days, the successful portfolio also includes Fiorito Rum and the Li brand in various flavours, as well as Fiorito Limoncello.

The base for the mild, fresh liqueur made according to the family recipe are the best lemons from Sicily, the Limone di Siracusa IGP. The fruits are picked, selected and peeled by hand. In this way, the wafer-thin zest can unfold its full, natural aroma. Fiorito tastes good ice-cold and neat as a digestif, with prosecco as an aperitif or with tonic water and basil as a long drink.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Fiorito Limoncello.