In 1970, the Liebls launched their first own brand products: “Bärwurz” (Meum athamanticum), “Böhmischer Wind”, “Höllensteiner” and “Latschenwacholder” (mountain pine juniper). Prior to this, the family had built up a wine and spirits wholesale business from a small grocery store in Bad Kötzting, in the Bavarian Forest.
The tradition of distilling botanicals and juniper runs deep in the Liebl family. For our first collaboration with Gerhard Liebl Freimeisterkollektiv wanted to take this up. The DOPPELWACHOLDER 052 is a straightforward, yet complex spirit, the result of one of Germany’s most decorated distillers utilizing his full potential. The use of fresh juniper means that berries dominate, but instead of the usually harsh and resinous juniper notes, here there are fresh citrus notes, with a subtle sweetness and gentle floral aroma. Thus the DOPPELWACHOLDER 052 can be enjoyed straight, while also being the perfect ingredient for a classic gin cocktail.
Nose
Citrus Notes | Fresh Juniper | Pine Forest
Taste
Fresh Juniper Berries | Amalfi Lemon | Grapefruit | Black Pepper
Finish
Citrus | Pine | Fresh Juniper
Ingredients
Fresh Juniper Berries from Tuscany | Wheat Grain Spirit | Water
Preparation
>DOPPELWACHOLDER 052 is based on fresh juniper berries from Tuscany, which are gently squeezed and set in a fine wheat distillate for 48 hours. Gerhard Liebl slowly distills this in a 150 liter still over a period of five hours. The DOPPELWACHOLDER 052 then matures in earthenware containers for several months, reducing to 43% volume, before final bottling with spring water.
Bad Kötztingen, Bayerischer Wald
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Gerhard Liebl
Distiller | Bad Kötzting, Bavarian Forest
Founded in the Bavarian Forest as a grocery store by Maria Liebl in 1935, her husband and son transformed the post-war family business into a wine and spirits trade. Around 1970, the Liebl family began to produce their own spirits, the first own products were next Bärwurzschnaps the regional Blutwurzlikör (bloodworm liqueur).
Today, the distillery is operated by Gerhard Liebl in the third generation. As one of the best distillers in Germany, he distils not only traditional specialties of the Bavarian Forest but also fruit eau-de-vie and liqueurs as well as whiskey and gin. 2018 Gerhard Liebl won the overall victory in the Fruit Brandy Olympiad for the third time: he was awarded the title of “Distiller of the Year in Gold” at the Destillata in Austria.
