Exploring Global Handcrafted Beverages in Germany.

There is something unique about craft drinks. You get to appreciate the hours that went into perfecting a recipe. The foraging of botanicals to get the perfect gin. The brewing, steeping, malting, fermenting, distilling…

I got an opportunty to travel to Germany last month for Prowein, a global Wines & Spirits showcase. My most memorable day was when I decided to learn about craft beverages.

Dusseldorf, Germany saw some of the biggest names in the handcrafted drink scene come together under one roof. Business deals were made by people in the Wines & Spirits trade. Producers had a chance to showcase their product line. Because this was a place where everyone put their best foot forward, we (consumers) got to try new expressions and products that have not hit our market. People from all markets were there.

Before Prowein (The global Wines and Spirits showcase aforementioned), every time I would hear of handcrafted beverages, I only thought of craft beer. I had not thought of handcrafted spirits or taken the time to explore what that was about.

Same But Different

During Prowein, the craft drink category had its own hall called the “Same But Different”. Just like the slogan, handcrafted beverages are made in their own special way. The reason why they are “Craft” is that they are made from sourced ingredients and in small batches.

Another thing that makes craft drinks special is the fact that they care about the consumer. They are made with passion and care. Non-craft drinks, on the other hand, are most times more concerned about the bottom line and how many bottles they are selling.

Gin

Among the things that impressed me was the craft gin. Gin is so diverse because you can make it with different types of botanicals and ingredients. For example, the juniper in Kenya will have a different flavour than that of the juniper from another region because of a variety of factors including climate, soils and terroir.

I got to try Niemand gin and Malfy’s gin. Niemand gin was very flowery and it was surprising how after a dash of tonic, everything opened up and the fresh flavours were so pronounced. The best way to enjoy it is with ice and garnished with a rosemary sprig or an apple slice.

Wine Beer

I also discovered that there was something like wine beer. A winery in Chile wanted to make something different and so they made a sparkling wine and flavoured with hops. Apart from mixing the ingredients, the processes also integrate. Surprisingly, it tasted great especially when chilled. The alcohol content was 9%.

Craft Cider

I did not know how big the craft cider industry was. I stumbled on Dan Kelly's cider who had the most crsip cider I have tasted. They had different expressions with different levels of sweetness, crispness, colour and even "cloudiness". They also custom make the cider depending on what the client wants.

More Cider!

There were also craft whiskeys, beer and aperitifs.

Packaging & Branding

More than anything I loved some of the bottling and designs. I am very visual and I love fonts and lettering. So when I see a great bottle, I will want to try what is inside. I loved the more modern fonts and colourful bottle designs. Below are some of my favourites.