World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

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.

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.

Euelsberger Brennerei: Production in the Eifel region

Owner and master distiller Stephan Thomé and his wife Claudia run the 2017 start-up in Dingdorf in the Eifel region. There wasn’t a distillery on his parents’ farm – the new production facility was installed in the old calf shed. “My parents tell me my great-grandfather would have loved it. We love the materials of copper and stainless steel, and the way the light falls on them through the old stable windows.”

The name of the business comes from the Euelsberg, where they have a traditional orchard with tall trees growing apples, pears, damsons, Mirabelle plums, greengage plums and walnuts. They produce fruit brandies, spirits and various gins, all in the New Western Gin category. In the development phase, the distiller played around with over 120 herbs in his aroma lab, the result was twelve varieties, of which three were chosen for the first batch. Each gin has its own individual note, from spicy and fresh to floral and oriental.

The botanicals – be they from their own land or from around the world – are carefully selected and are of the same highest quality as those used in top restaurants and homeopathy. Many ingredients are from organic farms and are harvested by hand. In the small production facility, all stages are carried out by hand. The gin is carefully filtered to preserve the aroma and is bottled by hand to then mature first in steel barrels and then for months in the bottle itself.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Laux Premium #1, Laux Premium #3, White Vermouth and Red Vermouth with Majorcan oranges, and silver for Laux Premium #2.