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Bros. J. & M. Ziegler – The art of distillation at the highest level

In Baden-Württemberg’s Freudenberg, in the idyllic landscape on the Main loop near Miltenberg, real craftsmanship takes place at the Ziegler fine fruit distillery. Everything is done with dedication and esprit – from the fruit harvest to labelling the bottles. With this special demand for quality, they have succeeded in rising to become one of the leading distilleries in Germany. These days, every connoisseur knows the name Ziegler, and the fine brandies, spirits, liqueurs, whiskies and fruit vinegars they produce.

A milestone in the 1980s was the introduction of the fine brandy Wildkirsch Nr. 1 (wild cherry), which at the same time was their foot in the door to star-rated cuisine. With cask-aged brandies and 3-litre bottles, in the following years they established themselves on the German gastronomy scene. In 2008, there followed Aureum – the first single malt whisky from Untermain, a homage to the history of the distillery, which originally began as a brewery. In the meantime, the series includes 1865 5 Year, Aureum 1865 Cask Strength, Aureum 1865 Grave Digger Edition and Aureum 1865 Grave Digger – The Bruce (both developed in cooperation with the heavy metal band ‘Grave Digger’), Aureum 1865 Chestnut Cask, Aureum 1865 Whisky Liqueur and Limited Edition Aureum 1865 Cognac Ferrand. Since 2015, a gin has been on the market, in the classic bottle as well as the metal platinum edition, a limited edition of only 3,000 units.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Saturn peach liqueur (World Spirits Award 2018 & Spirit of the Year 2018), gold for Alte Zwetschke (damson) matured in wooden barrels, Aureum 1865 Cognac Ferrand (Limited Edition), silver for Ziegler Nr. 1 wild cherry brandy 2005 limited, and bronze for mAin Kräuterlikör (herb liqueur).

INDUSTRIAL EL ROSARIO: Traditional pisco from Chile

Bou Barroeta is located in Viña El Rosario in the heart of the Huasco Valley, known as the Garden of Atacama. Lush, colourful flora unfold in the middle of a desert landscape, where excellent pisco has been produced for generations. Pisco is based on handpicked muscatel grapes and distilled in traditional alembics. The wood for the barrels in which the pisco matures comes from the mountains near Lago Calafquén in the heart of the Mapuche region. For these indigenous people, the Coyan oak symbolises new life and the immortality of the soul. In this sense, the barrel storage is also a promise for the longevity of the distillate.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a large wave of immigration from the Spanish Balearic Islands to the areas of Coquimbo and Atacama in northern Chile. 19-year-old Francisco Bou Suñer, a master distiller, belonged to one of these first settler families of Majorcan origin. In 1903, his younger brother Antonio and his sisters joined him to settle in Vallenar, the capital of the province of Huasco. Antonio was one of the first pisco producers in Atacama to present his pisco at the Ibero-American Exhibition in Seville in 1930. In 1940, he married Celestina Barroeta Arrieta, and they had four children. After Antonio’s death in 1961, his son Francisco continued production and the pisco was registered as Bou Barroeta pisco in the 1980s. Today, his descendants are in charge of the El Rosario company.

At the World Spirits Award 2026, there was Silver for Bou Barroeta Marías, Cofradía de Bou Barroeta, Luxstelle de Bou Barroeta and Noor de Bou Barroeta.

2B Hemp Gin: Styrian gin experience

Two visionaries, Armin Breinl (doctor, drink creator, musician) and Wolfgang Thomann (gin maker), have created a completely new gin experience with real hemp powder: 2B HEMP GIN (inspired by AEIJST). On 17th November 2018, the two invited guests to the first tasting of 2B HEMP GIN in the AEIJST GIN distillery in St. Nikolai in the Sausal Valley.

Made from organic juniper berries, this innovative gin has an impressive, mild and fruity taste and a typical hemp note. Due to its unique aroma, it not only tastes good neat, but also creates a ‘wow’ effect in cocktails – as proven in the long drink Styrian Pale Gin AEIJST refined with 2B HEMP.

For thousands of years, hemp has been grown as a valuable plant, be it for rope, fabric, paper or as an active ingredient in ointments and tinctures. Hemp has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, yet recently has been demonised as an addictive drug and has suffered under its ensuing prohibition, originating in the USA. These days hemp is regaining importance and is being used more as a luxury food as well as in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The Lifestyle Trading company, run by Armin Breinl, is an innovative beverage producer, which is already known amongst trade professionals for its sugar-free ‘func- tional fruit drinks’. The drinks have a high fruit content (more than 50 per cent) and additional natural, vital substances and have an energising, relaxing and regenerative effect.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for 2B HEMP GIN.