The participants: Helmut Adam, Lukas Werle, Josef and Doris Farthofer, Theo Ligthart, Roland Graf and moderator Jürgen Schmücking (l. to r.) created a network of industry professionals through the event. © Gerald Prüller
Having travelled from Germany and every corner of Austria, the experts of the bar and spirits scene gathered last Tuesday in the Amstetten district.
For several years, Doris and Josef Farthofer have dreamed of creating a platform for distillate enthusiasts: a place for the professional exchange of ideas, a network of visions, hopes and experiences. In collaboration with Mostviertel Tourismus, that dream has now become a reality.
An exciting tasting for professionals: a blind tasting of young grain spirits – some at cask strength. © Gerald Prüller
Passionate Speakers
With their event "Klare Gedanken", Doris and Josef Farthofer have once again proven their pioneering role – because a network for spirits experts simply didn't exist before. And yet the industry faces major challenges. Not only the climate changes that are being felt so strongly in agriculture, but also the shifting tides of society (veganism, the sober movement, and so on) affect everyone in the scene. Helmut Adam (publisher of the spirits magazine Mixology), Roland Graf (journalist and blogger), Theo Ligthart (founder of Craft Spirits Berlin and Freimeister Kollektiv) and Josef Farthofer himself therefore spoke about trends and developments in the industry, sharing experiences and ideas for discussion – which was not long in coming and was carried out with great ambition.
A Role Model with a Holistic Approach
Alongside the specialist discussions, bar owners, bartenders, merchants, distillers and journalists also had the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the innovative Destillerie Farthofer:
The operation is organically certified, uses water from its own nature-protected granite spring, burns elephant grass to heat the stills, and passes the surplus waste heat on to the local fire station and kindergarten. The distiller works with heritage varieties that are often easier on the palate and, above all, more resilient. What's more, the Farthofers have had their own in-house Mälzerei since 2018. It is no coincidence that Josef and Doris were named Sustainable Pioneers celebrated.
The forum "Klare Gedanken" offered a wide range of perspectives on the spirits industry – from farm-grown grain to creative cocktails at the bar – and was received with great enthusiasm by attendees. To be continued – at the second edition on January 26, 2021.
