Short and fruity: Lipz, Mieps & Mött's
The first to do so was Egenberger Lebensmittel GmbH in 2010 with its Lipz-Schorlen in the varieties blackcurrant, rhubarb and gooseberry. The fruits for the organic vegan spritzers come from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. They are also pressed and bottled in central Germany before the colorful bottles are sold exclusively in small grocery stores, supermarkets and restaurants in the region. True to the motto "You can drink with your eyes," Egenberger Lebensmittel GmbH not only attaches great importance to the contents of its drinks, but also to the appearance of the bottles. The labels of the Lipz spritzer were designed by the Leipzig artist Christoph Ruckhäberle. An eye-catcher on every shelf - or in the hand of the thirsty.
Similar is the concept of Mieps-Schorlen, which has been available to buy since 2014. The producer Betacoop eG not only relies on natural ingredients in organic quality but also goes a step further towards sustainable business with its support program for social projects and initiatives. The collective's profits go exclusively to charitable projects. When buying one of the bottles, the customer is also doing something good. The labels, which are illustrated in detail with animal and ingredient motifs, are also an eye-catcher.
The Meiner Mött's – Lemonade, the combination of ingredients of which goes back to a recipe from the Sicilian grandmother of the Mansfeld family. Great-granddaughter Sophia Mansfeld created the Meiner Mött's Erfrischung brand in 2016 with the support of her parents. Since then, the multi-fruit drink with lemon-cucumber-basil flavour has not only made it onto numerous Leipzig drinks menus on its own, but also in combination with the classic mixed drinks gin and Aperol. The motto "Less sweet, less carbonation, lots of flavour, great refreshment" is popular. The question remains as to what Mött's actually means. The term is derived from the nickname Mött, which Sophia has used to call her mother since she was a child.
Liquor ideas: LONG HORN, Pfff, Gisela & Connewitzer Liqueur
Coffee The tradition of the Wilhelm Horn Marken Spirituosen company goes back to 1923. At that time, the namesake opened his first brandy and liqueur business in Leipzig. Despite various setbacks during the global economic crisis, the Second World War and the GDR era, the company dared to start anew in 1991. By 2005, the founder's son Klaus Horn had established a recipe-rich and diverse range of brands. After his retirement, he transferred this to the newly founded GmbH, which showed a good sense of trends in 2016 with the creation of a new gin based on the recipe from the 1920s. The popular LONG HORN Handcrafted Lipsk Dry Gin. With its name and the fine linden blossom note, Leipzig refers to its hometown. Leipzig is derived from the Slavic word Lipsk, meaning linden town.
Spirits lovers also get their money's worth in the west of Leipzig. The trained distillers Max Lange and Enno Cöster of the Leipziger Spirituosen Manufaktur have specialized in the production of traditional spirits with new flavour nuances. In addition to product quality assurance, their work also focuses on social aspects. Creating jobs and long-term value creation in the region is an important concern for both of them. So far, six varieties have been created as part of the brand concept: Manufaktur Vodka, Minz °9, Leipziger Schwarzbeerlikör, Leipziger Absinth, Mystika Vermouth and Æther Gin. Artist Paula Wolber provides that certain visual extra on the bottle, creating an individual look for each product with a clear, timeless design language. Fans can also wear this on T-shirts and hoodies.
Creating a new version of the classic peppermint liqueur was the idea of Sarah Stiller and Johannes Münch from the Auwald Destille. Their home-brewed pfff does not contain any chemical additives. The main flavour is instead organic peppermint oil, which provides less sweetness and a lighter colour. After the success of Pfff, they followed up in 2017: The new variety KRSCH has since helped the little brother of Pfeffi, the cherry liqueur, to experience a revival. If you want to try both, you will find what you are looking for in the mobile Auwald Bar, among other places. Since 2018, the two creators have been touring Central Germany and mixing both old classics and new creations such as Mate Pfffresh or Peppermint Kiss on site.
Also committed to liqueur, but with the clear message “There has to be something else besides Pfeffi”, the initiators of the Connewitzer Liqueur Factory. They made their first attempts with rhubarb in 2017. After its successful introduction, cucumber and melon followed, as well as the move to their own premises in a former butcher's shop in the southern suburbs. Since then, each of the four has taken over and monitored the filling process of the swing-top bottles with their 1920s design in shifts - a homage to the (lifestyle) style of that time.
Another mix has long since made it out of the niche and is now an integral part of Leipzig’s nightlife: the so-called Gisela. The cult drink, which only a few people outside the city limits have heard of, consists of 2cl lime juice and 2cl vodka. Since 2019, Gisela can no longer only be drunk in Leipzig pubs but can also be bought in 2cl and 500ml bottles from the "Doppelblick" label for home consumption.
In a mood for beer: Cliff's Brauwerk, Weiße Elster Craft Beer & Funky Forelle
The craft beer trend has not stopped in Leipzig either and since the mid-2010s there have been two Leipzig labels that lovers of liquid gold should have on their agenda. In 2015 Cliff Schönemann opened Leipzig's first microbrewery in the Waldstraßenviertel, Cliff's Brauwerk. Since then, he has been brewing new varieties on his own: unfiltered, untreated and using Leipzig water as a base. You can try the creations either directly on site from the barrel or bottled for home. Only 900 meters away as the crow flies is the Goldhopfen the home of the Weiße Elster Craft Beer. The beer brand, founded in 2014, came from Jann and Cathrin, who also ran the bar on Kolonnadenstraße until May 2018. A new team has now taken over at Goldhopfen, so that Jann and Cathrin can devote themselves entirely to their beer creation. The varieties brewed in Chemnitz include the classics Pils, Helles and Schwarzbier, as well as a Pale Ale and special brews.
In 2016, the desire to create their own beer in accordance with the German Purity Law prompted two new Leipzig residents to brew a beer that, according to their own statement, “not only tastes great, but also looks great.” Christoph Jespersen and Louise Düsterlohe tinkered with the taste, logo and name and the result was the tasty Pils Funky Forelle (Trout). Just one year later, the Pretty Pottwal (Sperm whale), a naturally cloudy shandy. The names refer to the Nordic homeland of the founders and illustrate their approach of breaking new ground with humour.