Thoralm Gin - The taste of the Alps from 1,400m above sea level

The Salzkammergut on Austria's northern edge of the Alps has a lot to offer: Picturesque lakes and river valleys, fantastic hiking routes, spa towns steeped in history and picturesque alpine inns. For a good two years now, there has also been a distillery at an altitude of 1400m.

At first glance, the story of its origins seems somewhat adventurous. When Berlin architect Mark Pohl learned that the Gasthaus Thoralm on the Postalm was empty, he did not hesitate for long and acquired the property together with his colleague Robert Prym. Shaun Robinson and Pohl's brother-in-law Arne Kappenberg join them as partners. The original plan was to renovate the dilapidated inn and make it accessible again. However, chemist, agronomist and master distiller Arne Kappenberg has another idea that turns the rustic inn idea into a passion project: he wants to distil gin on the Alm.

Thoralm Gin is distilled in the specially built distillery.

And not just any gin, but one with ingredients that grow exclusively on the Alm. It takes him a good two years to refine the recipe, because it turns out that without classic botanicals such as citrus fruits or cardamom, it is not so easy to create a tasty distillate. But patience pays off, because in the end, Thoralm Gin is a genuine Alpine herbal gin that captures the taste of the Salzkammergut like no other.

A London Dry Gin - made exclusively from botanicals that grow on the mountain pasture

A total of seven botanicals end up in the London Dry Gin: mountain juniper, bloodroot, ribwort plantain, yarrow, nettle, lemon balm and red clover. Even if the herbs used can no longer be sourced solely from the Thoralm itself, care is still taken to source the ingredients from the surrounding valleys and neighboring mountain pastures wherever possible. The same applies to the Swiss stone pine and spruce needles that are required for the Swiss stone pine liqueur and the Thoralm needle bitters.

Distillation takes place in the former cowshed of the inn, with a distillery built especially for the manufactory. Guided tours and tastings will also be possible here as soon as the Thoralm is ready.

Until then, Thoralm Gin can also be enjoyed at home or in various bars - both on the neighboring alpine farms in the Salzkammergut, as well as in Salzburg, Berlin, Munich or Hamburg. Preferably as a Thoralm Sour, the signature drink from the Postalm. Freshly squeezed lemon juice, a little sugar syrup, an egg white and a few ice cubes turn the Thoralm Gin into a refreshing cocktail with a unique alpine herb note. Cheers!