Combining tradition and high-tech innovation – Swiss distillery DIWISA

The Swiss DIWISA distillery in Willisau is a family business which has been able to withstand the test of time with irrepressibly innovative strength and highly motivated employees since 1918. Optimally combining traditional craftsmanship and innovation, the DIWISA distillery has become the market leader in producing and distributing alcoholic beverages in Switzerland.

The distillery was founded by Hans Affentranger in 1918 in order to produce spirits, liquors and syrup. Because the natural surroundings of Willisau were predestined to grow various fruits, it seems no wonder that the family business soon gained competence in the field of fruit spirit distillation.Today, DIWISA is one of Europe’s most modern distilleries which surprises customers with numerous pioneering products.

Their premium vodka brand XELLENT, for example, leaves nothing to chance. Great vodka combines good ingredients and high-quality water and this is exactly what XELLENT puts a special focus on. Solely processing pure Swiss rye from local cultivation areas, the distillation process starts in a small, traditional copper alembic before the vodka comes into a specifically manufactured column with 45 plates. Here, it gets cleaned, all remaining unwanted components are removed and thus, the taste is further refined, harmonised and softened.After a resting period of several months, the vodka gets diluted to drinking strengths with water from Central Switzerland’s Titlis glacier. A concluding, multi-stage filtration process gives XELLENT SwissVodka pure perfection.

The result is a high-quality product full of character with a slightly sweet taste. Contemporary design and holistic ‘Swissness’ makes XELLENT the perfect product for connoisseurs of fine distillates.“The positive feedbacks on our XELLENT Swiss Vodka motivated us to produce an excellent gin which is based on this vodka. Various botanical extracts, partly from the DIWISA company’s own garden or surrounding forests, make it special,” notes Madeleine Huegli, export manager at DIWISA. The XELLENT Swiss Edelweiss Gin has already celebrated substantial successes and has been awarded a gold medal from the‘World Spirits Award’. TROJKA, Switzerland’s largest colourful liqueur vodka brand, is also part of DIWISA’s product range. Furthermore, the family business successfully distributes brands, such as Jägermeister, Sierra Tequila, Glenfarclas Single Malt or Château du Breuil.

It comes as no surprise that their highquality, pure and tasty innovations have made DIWISA the leading company on Switzerland’s spirit market.

Text: Nane Steinhoff | Photos: DIWISA

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