From retirement project to gourmet institution: the colorful world of the Deheck distillery

Briefly about you: who are you?

We are the Deheck distillery and liqueur manufacturer from Gau-Odernheim in Rheinhessen. For us, the name says it all in two senses. The distillery takes its name from the founder and owner Karl-Peter Deheck.

We distil brandies, spirits, gin and whisky in our distillery. We also create and produce around 100 different liqueurs - from fruity liqueurs and cream liqueurs to liqueurs that are refined with whisky or rum. Our mission: We distil high-proof delights for connoisseurs. We have been a DLG gold award winner since 2024 and our products have been regularly awarded prizes by the DLG for many years.

What was master distiller Karl-Peter Deheck's first product or products and which of them are still available today?

The first products were classic fruit brandies, some of which are still very popular today. Specifically, these are our forest raspberry brandy, our fruit brandy and our Williams Christ pear brandy.

Then, as now, we rely on regional raw materials for our brandies and spirits. Not only the best grapes grow in the wine-growing region of Rheinhessen. We also have many orchards in the region, where pears, apples and other fruits grow and are distilled by us into fine brandies.

However, brandies are now absolute connoisseur products. We sell the most liqueurs - here we have become known throughout Germany with our extremely wide and very innovative range - including our popular strawberry-chili liqueur.

Deheck is known throughout Germany for its liqueurs

How did Karl-Peter Deheck get into distilling and spirits?

The distillery began by processing fruit from Rheinhessen orchards and mashed fruit supplied by farmers from the Rheinhessen region. Exactly 20 years ago, Karl-Peter Deheck seized the opportunity to take over a distillery in Gau-Odernheim. For the former winegrower, this was originally intended to be more of a retirement project. However, thanks to the strong Deheck name and the convincing quality, the brandies quickly enjoyed great demand, so that the first employees and daughter Barbara quickly joined the business.

It didn't take long for the company to switch from manual labeling and bottling to mechanical support due to its growing success. By the time liqueurs were added to the range, the retirement project had grown into a fully-fledged distillery.

In its anniversary year 2025, the Deheck distillery has over 150 brandies, spirits and liqueurs in its range and employs over 30 people. In addition to owner Karl-Peter Deheck, his daughter Barbara, who has a degree in beverage technology, is also part of the management team, while his wife Kornelia also runs two delicatessens in Gau-Odernheim and Alzey.

What makes your products "typically Deheck" - how can they be easily recognized?

The craftsmanship and the selection of the best raw materials are reflected in our products. In the liqueur sector in particular, we often get the feedback that we have opened up a whole new world for people with our flavors. Everyone has probably had a cheap liqueur in their glass that only tasted of alcohol, sugar and artificial flavor. Our liqueurs, on the other hand, have depth, subtle flavors and character - from strawberry chili to butterscotch and Dubai chocolate. Quality, innovation and aroma - that's "typically Deheck".

How do you manage to bring innovation into your mindset and daily work to complement your classic range with many creative recipes such as Mango x Habanero, the BLUFFs, Peanut Butter x Banana, Dubai Chocolate or an Old Tom Rhubarb Gin?

If you don't move with the times, you move with the times. That's why we've always been open to new products and new flavors. The response from specialist retailers, our own delicatessen stores and our online customers has proved us right for many years.

People are always open to discovering new products and flavors and experimenting with them. Our liqueurs and spirits are not only enjoyed on their own, but are also used as an exciting ingredient in cocktails, as a topping for ice cream or as an ingredient in baking.

We are often inspired to create new varieties and flavors when we are in the kitchen or on a vigilant stroll through the supermarket. Dubai Chocolate Liqueur is the best example of this. While everyone has jumped on the chocolate bandwagon, no one in the spirits industry has thought of a liqueur, except for us. With our creativity and the ability to produce everything locally, we responded quickly to the trend.

The products of the Deheck distillery have been awarded prizes by the DLG for years - in 2024, they were awarded the Bundesehrenpreis in gold

How did you come to offer so many spreads and even sweets?

Our distillery has always focused on conscious, responsible and high-quality enjoyment. And for many people, a good distillate, be it a liqueur or a brandy, is also accompanied by a good meal - be it a small snack or a full meal. Today, this is known as food pairing.

In any case, we want to offer a holistic taste experience and have therefore decided to offer high-quality delicatessen products to go with our distillates. The combination of distillates and delicatessen is also available in our store in the form of lovingly put together gift sets. Of course, this is exactly what we also offer in our two stores. Delicatessen and distillates simply go well together.

Which ingredient fascinated you the most recently?

We don't want to give too much away, but our distillate sommelier and our master distiller are currently working intensively on the subject of matcha.

Which product are you particularly proud of?

Overall, we are proud of the quality of our range. But there are definitely a few products that have developed from a schnapps idea into absolute top sellers. One of these is our garlic spirit called Vampire Hunter and our fiery herbal schnapps Krabbeldiewandenuff. The Krabbler always leaves a lasting impression on people who drink it for the first time. Hiccups, outbreaks of sweat - we've seen and experienced it all with the Krabbler.

How does someone like Karl-Peter Deheck view today's spirits landscape, the almost unbroken gin hype and the numerous "non-alcoholic spirits" start-ups?

For us, the gin hype is flattening out somewhat, but we are noticing that interest in whisky is on the rise again. That suits us perfectly, because we've had our own whisky cellar for a few years now. We currently store over 30,000 liters of whisky in a historic vaulted cellar in the heart of Alzey - so whisky lovers can look forward to a lot in the coming years.

The demand for non-alcoholic products is of course also reaching us. We have already tested a number of products on the market, but are not really convinced by the results. The product often smells better than it tastes. This is certainly due to the current production methods, which still have to develop as a whole. It was no different with wine and beer.

In any case, we have made a conscious decision not to offer alcohol-free distillates, as we would not be able to deliver the quality that we claim for ourselves. We leave this field to others; we would prefer our name to stand for high-quality distillates in the future too. Instead of dealcoholized products, we have decided to focus on our BLUFFs.

BLUFF is an innovative alcohol-free alternative for anyone who loves the taste of classic cocktails and long drinks, but without the alcohol. BLUFF is simply mixed with sparkling water and alcohol-free connoisseurs have a virgin gin and tonic, mojito, aperitif spritz or Cuba Libre. Bluff is not an imitation, but an enjoyable experience in its own right.

At the Deheck distillery, the gin hype is flattening out somewhat, but interest in whisky is on the rise again - much to the delight of the team, as the distillery has had its own whisky cellar for several years now

What does "craft" mean today? Is it still the same as it was a few decades ago?

For us, craftsmanship means working with genuine passion and a deep understanding of raw materials, technology and the culture of enjoyment. At its core, it's still the same as it used to be: it's about creating something with your own hands, with experience and with responsibility - and focusing on quality rather than quantity.

But of course the environment has changed. Today, not a year goes by without us using new and modern equipment, analytical methods and significantly more knowledge about flavors and production processes. What has not changed, however, is our claim to make honest, high-quality products from the best ingredients. Of course, in much larger quantities than 20 years ago, but always with the Deheck character.

For us, craftsmanship is not a nostalgic label, but a promise of quality. It means that we control the entire production process - from the first liter of macerate to the labeling. And you can see that in every bottle.

What would the Deheck team drink at the end of the day or at a company event if they had to decide on three drinks?

With over 150 products, it's not easy to choose - but if we had to decide on three drinks, they would be:

Our Krabbeldiewandenuff - simply because for many of us it's associated with really fun memories. Whether it's a Christmas party or a summer party, the Krabbler is always a talking point.

A whisky from our cellar in Alzey - as a sign of the depth and maturity we have built up over the last few years. A real pleasure ritual that many of us celebrate.

A BLUFF Spritz Aperitivo or Mojito - a real crowd-pleaser, especially at summer events. Alcohol-free, but with character - and therefore also a really good choice for all those colleagues who don't drink alcohol.

With or without alcohol - in the end, it's always about enjoyment and good company. And we have plenty of both in the team.

You can find all products from the huge world of Deheck at a glance here.