World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Limomacher: Regionally produced – socially labelled

Limomacher is a young Bregenz enterprise, according to their own definition “excellent in graphics, design, customer service, lemonade production, social involvement and coffee drinking”. However, a look at the brief biographies of the four-person team reveals quite a bit about their wide-ranging qualifications. All lemonades are produced regionally in Vorarlberg according to their own recipes. Short pathways right up until labelling – also labels for private customers and companies on request – reinforce sustainability, along with filling exclusively in glass bottles. The labelling, as well as the whole warehousing, are handled by Lebenshilfe Vorarlberg, a support organisation for people with disabilities. This is an indication that social thinking has been of great importance from the beginning.

At the beginning of 2018, the ‘Franz von Durst’ brand started in Spar shops, followed by the start-up shelf at Metro. The company developed a gin along with a tonic water for this purpose, as the first manufacturer in retailing that offers both as a one-stop shop. The gin that is also regionally produced goes perfectly with the tonic water and its animating and aromatic concept offers an exceptionally fruity drinking experience. Aside from the juniper base, five further botanicals play a role: angelica root provides a slight tanginess and supports the homogenous taste; orange peel is characterised by a range of aromatic substances and a fine hint of citrus; liquorice provides a complex sweetness with a slightly earthy note; elderberry has an intensive and refreshing taste; and hops gives it a special something.

“We are delighted that the Vorarlberg locals have received our gin so well and that we can expand step by step also into other provinces,” say the two young entrepreneurs.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was achieved by Franz von Durst Gin, and silver by Franz von Durst Dry Gin Wild.

Jim Beam Distillery – Bourbon straight on

Knob Creek is named after a rivulet in Kentucky, the home of President Abraham Lincoln. His steadfast attitude seems to serve as an example for this straightforward bourbon. The square ‘chemist’s bottle’ suits these traditional values perfectly, as does the striking label which is reminiscent of the old tradition of wrapping bottles in newspaper. To this day, a mixture of experience and craftsmanship is the recipe for success for the bourbon from Knob Creek.

The bourbon was at the peak of its success in 1919, when the nationwide prohibition of the sale, manufacture and transport of alcohol began – lasting until 1933. Following this, a new start was impossible for many distilleries; others couldn’t finance the customary long maturing process of the bourbon. This situation motivated Booker Noe to revive the traditional bourbon style from the time before the prohibition: rich in aroma, with discreet sweetness due to year-long maturation in strongly ‘toasted’ wooden barrels from American white oak. In 1950, he joined the family business – his mother was the daughter of Jim Beam, which meant bourbon was already in his blood – and completed his training as Master Distiller. With the small series of premium bourbon he launched, the term ‘batch’ (small) was established and revolutionised the industry. His son, Fred Noe, continues with this clear strategy: “I learnt the business from scratch, listened to my father and learnt on the job. I know what it means to make perfect bourbon. Each bottle is a reflection of my family.” Since 1992, the Knob Creek brand has represented these values with the perfect combination of tradition and top quality.

A golden trio was successful at the World Spirits Award: Knob Creek Rye Whiskey Small Batch, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon and Knob Creek Straight Bourbon.

ReGINerate – Gin across the spectrum

The innovative ReGINerate product range has an impressively wide-ranging gin spectrum. The driving force behind the project is Martin Kern, a trained media businessman and lateral starter, who brings a passion for gin, love of detail and good taste with him. His partner, Ernst Deselaers, a farmer and distiller, stands by his side with his know-how, experience from his own distillery, and with the necessary cool-headedness and diligence. This helped Martin to fully immerse himself in his craft, to understand it, become inspired by it, interpret it, and then continue to develop it. After nearly 18 months it happened – ReGINerate was launched on the market.

Martin Kern discovered gin in 2012, and, with his decision to change careers, it also became his passion. First it was ‘Learning by Burning’, whereby each distilling process was a learning process that expanded his knowledge and experience. Then he tackled the art of seasoning – which aromas work with each other, and which do not. Building on this, he developed some impressive recipes. The necessary alcohol comes from wheat, which Ernst Deselaers grows on his own farm.

And this is the gin trio: with Silk City Dry the classic juniper tone is central, accompanied by lemon verbena, Szechuan pepper and ginger, nothing more is necessary; the fruity, complex, new interpretation of Artisan Gin Made The Slow Way shows that gin is more than just a visit to the herb garden or the spice drawer; and Artisan Gin Made The Sloe Way is the first real sloe gin in the world.

At the World Spirits Award, the trio stood up to the test – 3 times gold.