History

Heckengäu Distillery is a small family-owned spirits manufacturer, founded in the summer of 2016 and located in Gechingen in the Heckengäu region. The company focuses on the production of whisky and gin and markets itself as a small, artisanal producer. They highlight regional raw materials and a historical association with the Alemanni and Nerthus cult as part of their identity. The distillery is part of the LEADER project, and they receive support from the European Union's Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. In addition to production, they offer guided tours and experiences such as Schnapswanderungen and BrennerifFormidling, and they emphasize proximity to the region and its cultural heritage.

Production and Manufacturing

Raw Materials and Processes

• Raw materials are collected locally: water and malted barley from the region. The water comes directly from Gechingen and the malt comes from Bondorf via Regiokorn. The malt is milled and mashed in small batches and stored for later use.
• The mash sits in a 2000-liter Einmaischbottich; only a small amount of yeast is added at the end of the process. The mash does not undergo a traditional lautering; the residual mash provides additional aroma and an oil-like texture in the distillate.

Distillation

• Distillation takes place on two distillation installations from Kothe (Eislingen): a 500 L Grobbrandblase and a 200 L Feinbrandblase. The Grobbrand's first stage produces a roughly 30–35 %vol. grobrand, and the subsequent Feinbrand stage is used for a four-stage distillation that splits the distillate into Vorlauf, Mittellauf and Nachlauf. Mittellauf is the relevant alcohol portion for the consumer, and a very oily and aromatic profile is obtained.

Maturing and Aging

• Fresh oak casks from Hungarian and Bulgarian wood (up to 100 years) are used for the base aging. The entry into aging starts at about 65 % ABV and lasts at least 1.5 years, during which the alcohol content and coloration develop through the cask.
• After the base aging, the spirit is moved to Ex-Amarone casks from Italy for a fruity finish, imparting berry and dark fruit to the malted base. Up to about 90 casks are stored in the cellar with natural cejl, clay soil and stone walls, which provide a controlled temperature and humidity.
• Production is limited to between 5 and 20 casks per year to enable longer aging and careful care of each cask. All received casks are thoroughly inspected, and particularly the Italian Amarone casks are handled with care to prevent residual moisture from turning into vinegar.

Manufacture and Quality

• Bottling is done in small batches per cask (Single Cask), and each cask yields only a few hundred bottles (about 350 bottles per cask). No additives or colorants are used, and there is a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and personal attention in every product.

Products

Whisky

• HORTAR 7 Jahre – Single Malt Whisky, 42 % vol, 0.5 L. Aged in fresh oak casks and finished in Amarone casks. The cask number and details are clearly indicated on the bottle (for example, filled the first time at age three and finished at seven years). The label describes a 3-5-7 aging progression and the story of Gaukönig Hortar.
• HORTAR Single Cask Classic – Single Malt, 42 % vol, 0.5 L. Amarone finish; not blended between casks; 350 bottles per cask; all bottle types are Single Cask and without colorants or additives.
• HORTAR Cask Strength – Single Malt, 58 % vol, 0.5 L. Rich, higher strength with Amarone finish; also Single Cask.
• HORTAR Nerthus Kult Edition – Peated Single Malt, 47 % vol, 0.5 L. Edition 2/24; four-finish types: fresh oak (228 L), Ex-Amarone (228 L), Kastanie (30 L), and Sherry (30 L).
• HORTAR Boba&Agerich Edition – 0.5 L, 47 % vol. Maturation in four cask types (fresh oak, Ex-Amarone, Akacien and Ex-Wermut); 68 EUR. 10 cl variant also available.
• HORTAR Boba&Agerich Edition 10cl – 0.1 L, 47 % vol; same four cask types; 15 EUR.
• HORTAR Single Cask Classic (1 cl) – 0.1 L, 42 % vol; 11 EUR.
• HORTAR 7 Jahre (1 cl) – 0.1 L, 42 % vol; 13 EUR.
• HORTAR Cask Strength (1 cl) – 0.1 L, 58 % vol; 13 EUR.
• HORTAR Nerthus Kult Edition (1 cl) – 0.1 L, 47 % vol; 15 EUR.

Gin

• 44VIER London Dry Gin – London Dry Gin, 44.4 % vol, 0.5 L. Juniper-based with a composition of 7 botanicals including ginger, cardamom, coriander and orange zest; twice distilled on the Feinbrandblase.
• Heckengäu Dry Gin – 0.5 L, 42 % vol. Regional ingredients, sustainable packaging and a maceration at 18 % vol for 24 hours. Botanicals include juniper, rosemary, lemongrass, apple, cornflower, blyant, medlar, white fir, angelica root and licorice.

• Sloe Gäu Gin – Sloe liqueur based on 44VIER gin; 29.8 % vol, 0.5 L; also a 0.1 L variant.

• Gefüllte Christbaumkugeln – gift box with four small bottles: Hortar Single Cask Classic, 44VIER London Dry Gin, Sloe Gäu Gin and Der Wolf vom Zavelstein (spiritus) in 5 cl each.

Visits and Experiences

• Führungen mit Verkostung – Distillery tour with tastings of 3 products; duration 1.5–2 hours; price 14 euros. Times shown in the booking calendar.
• Schnapswanderungen – hikes with four schnapps stations; two routes: 4 km (2–3 hours) and 12 km (6–7 hours). The stations provide tastings of various products; includes a grill box at the end and opportunities for cultural and nature interpretation.
• Christmas and winter events – Christmas bar on 20.12.2025; opportunity to enjoy with music and food.
• Gift cards – experiential gifts for guided tours and tastings as well as distillation experiences; delivered by email or printable templates.
• Virtual tour – online tour where you can view the production and learn about the process.

Philosophy and Region

• Region and history: The distillery describes the Alemanni and Gaukönig Hortar and the Nerthus cult as part of the region's history and importance for their products. The products and naming are inspired by Alemannic heritage and cultural traditions.
• Local anchoring and sustainability: Raw materials and ingredients come from the local area; packaging and materials support sustainability (recyclable glass, cork without adhesive, labels on recycled paper).
• LEADER project: The company is a LEADER project and has received support from the EU to develop whisky and gin production, which also reflects a regional development vision.

Contact and Location

Based in Gechingen, Herdweg 6/1, 75391 Gechingen. Contact via info@heckengaeu-brennerei.de or +49 157 31 34 32 38. Customers can visit the site and gain insight into the production and product development.