The Glass Distillery
Two friends.
One copper still.
And plenty of juniper berries.
Since 2008 we have proudly counted ourselves among the pioneers of German gin history. Craftsmanship and enjoyment are our great passion.
How it all began
It came to pass in the autumn of 2007, when two friends met late one evening over a few glasses of gin and tonic. One glass led to another, and the ideas grew bolder accordingly... In the end the "Schnapsidee" (a boozy brainwave) was born, and Max & Daniel could not and would not resist this adventure. Craftsmanship, passion and plenty of juniper berries have defined our THE DUKE Munich Dry Gin ever since.
And the name? THE DUKE. A homage to Henry the Lion, the illustrious founder of Munich. A duke as patron, a city as origin, an ambition as programme.
Our story
2007 The boozy brainwave.
In the autumn of 2007 Max and Daniel meet late one evening over a few glasses of gin and tonic. One glass leads to another, and by the end of the night the "Schnapsidee" is born: a gin of their own from Munich. The name comes quickly: THE DUKE, a homage to Henry the Lion, the founder of the city.
2008 An idea changes everything.
The journey of THE DUKE begins in a cosy backyard in the heart of Munich. Every beginning holds a certain magic, they say. And indeed, we call this our "romantic phase": a small 80-square-metre room, a copper still named Carl, two lads (Max & Daniel) with plenty of passion but little expertise, plus a heap of juniper berries. Those were the basic ingredients of THE DUKE's early days. After a year of wild experimenting and "research trips" to distilleries up and down the country, the moment had finally come: THE DUKE Munich Dry Gin saw the light of the connoisseur world.
2010 Vorsprung durch T... (that one is already taken).
After two years of diligent hand-labelling, with many a late-night session in the backyard (you end up knowing your colleagues' life stories inside out), THE DUKE invests its savings in a first semi-automatic labelling machine: a quantum leap in our development. That called for a gin and tonic!
2011 True believers join THE DUKE.
Having kept things afloat with the help of a few students, Max & Daniel welcome the first team member: Kordula finally brings order to the back office! A little later, more true believers such as Ilka and Max follow.
2013 Bars and retailers thirst for gin.
After a long dry spell, the grand old dame gin finally returns to the spotlight of the connoisseur world. Bars and retailers thirst for Munich Dry Gin. The first express deliveries go out by bicycle courier around Munich's Maxvorstadt.
2014 THE DUKE goes on a world tour.
Out of the blue, an order from overseas arrives one day: the Canadians want to serve fine Munich gin. We don't need to be asked twice and get behind the still. The first pallet of DUKE (usually more of a landlubber) gets a whiff of Atlantic air.
2016 Finally, finally, finally!
A long-cherished dream comes true. Having burst at the seams of our admittedly cosy backyard, we found a new, worthy home for the duke among gins: an old 19th-century brick potato distillery in Aschheim, just outside Munich. Here we could bring our vision of the "glass distillery" to life: a house with its doors thrown open, welcoming every visitor on the spot.
2019 THE DUKE has its first master!
THE DUKE trained its first distiller back in 2013. Later, our head of production known as "Magic" (Georg Zwiehoff in everyday life) tops it off with a master craftsman's diploma. We are mighty proud!
2021 Zero percent, full flavour!
After much hesitation, the distillers of THE DUKE set out to give the world a non-alcoholic gin that, surprise, actually tastes good. It bears the sonorous name "Entgeistert": here the spirit of the alcohol has evaporated. Fun fact: the label shows Duke Henry (our patron) with his favourite animal, a lion, and his young wife, Duchess Matilda.
2021 The THE DUKE Bar is born.
With hospitality practically written into THE DUKE's DNA (and none of us ever saying no to a treat), we decided without further ado to create our own bar within the distillery's magnificent brickwork. Now our spirits have a short path to their first tasting.
2024 Single no more!
After long years of restless wandering, the duke among gins has finally found a companion: our DUCHESSA, a duchess from the house of Aperitivo Bavarese. Now refined daydrinking on long Saturdays can be celebrated in style with a Munich aperitivo.
What we stand for
Craftsmanship, because we love it.
Distilled in copper stills, bottled and labelled by hand. Every bottle passes through our busy hands; none leaves the distillery without the master's approving eye.
Quality, because we like to be our own best customers.
A good result starts with many individual steps. Our raw materials, the botanicals, are put through thorough testing with every single harvest. Our two Bavarian locals, hops and malt, are no exception.
Enjoyment, because it is our greatest talent.
Even Henry the Lion could not resist a fine drop. We are not one bit better: a good glass, illustrious company and a few moments without any rush. What more could you need?
"The only time I ever said no to a drink was when I misunderstood the question."
Will Sinclair
Honour where honour is due
Awards for Munich Dry Gin, Rough Gin, Lion’s Vodka and La Duchessa, each linked to the organiser’s results page.
| Year | Competition | Category | Product | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1st place Abendzeitung München, Aperitivo-Test | Aperitifs from Bavaria (10 tested) | La Duchessa Aperitivo Bavarese | View result |
| 2021 | Silver International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) | Distilled Dry Gin (Contemporary) | Munich Dry Gin | View result |
| 2021 | Bronze International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) | London Dry Gin | Rough Gin | View result |
| 2015 | 90 points Falstaff Spirits Guide | Gin | Munich Dry Gin | View result |
| 2015 | 90 points Falstaff Spirits Guide | Vodka | Lion's Munich Handcrafted Vodka | View result |
| 2013 | Germany Distillery of the Year New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC) | – | THE DUKE Destillerie | View result |
Further awards
Cited by trade and press; the organisers’ result lists for these years are no longer online.
- 2021 DLG Internationale Qualitätsprüfung Spirituosen: Gold, Munich Dry Gin
- 2020 Meininger's International Spirits Award (ISW): Gold, Munich Dry Gin
- 2020 Meininger's International Spirits Award (ISW): Gold, Lion's Munich Handcrafted Vodka
- 2015 DLG Internationale Qualitätsprüfung Spirituosen: Gold, Munich Dry Gin
- 2011 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC): Silver, Munich Dry Gin
What people who know us say
★★★★★„Nicht nur der Gin ist ein Erlebnis, auch die Gin-Tasting-Führung! Mit Witz, Charme und viel Wissen. Wir kommen wieder!"
Maria K. · Google
★★★★★„Sensationeller Workshop! Andi hat uns wundervoll in die Welt des Gins eingeweiht und mit seiner motivierten Art jeden begeistert."
Dominik K.
★★★★★„Toller Laden mit sehr nettem Personal und ausgezeichneten Spirituosen! Absolute Empfehlung!"
Thomas R.
Experience the distillery.
A tour with tasting, a distilling course or a drink at the bar: some stories you have to taste.