Destillerie Freihof

What Destillerie Freihof does

Destillerie Freihof GmbH is a privately held Austrian distillery founded in 1885 and headquartered in Lustenau, Vorarlberg. The company is currently led by Johann Drexel in its fifth generation of family ownership. It produces premium schnapps, liqueurs, vodka, rum, and vermouth across multiple sub-brands (Freihof 1885, Mirtillo, edelweiss, Vreimuth, Wiener Mocca, Entendusel, Nüssle, Privatbrennerei Gebhard Hämmerle), using traditional double distillation in copper pot stills with predominantly manual production processes. Notable proprietary techniques include the Früchteflasche method, in which whole Williams pears grow inside bottles filled with pear schnapps, and the GINDIVIDUALIST modular gin system enabling custom-built gin recipes for clients.

The business operates across two revenue streams: own-brand spirit sales through direct-to-consumer e-commerce (shop.freihof.com), Austrian retail (Spar, Billa, Sutterlüty, ADEG), and eight regional distribution partners (Austria, Germany, UK, Italy, Luxembourg, USA, Canada, Azerbaijan); and B2B white label/contract filling (Lohnabfüllung) serving trade, gastronomy, start-ups, and international brands with full-service recipe development, production, bottling, and logistics. Co-development partnerships underpin select products, notably Wiener Mocca with Wiener Kaffeemanufaktur Naber and Vreimuth vintage vermouth with herbal expert Karin Kaufmann and organic winery Fidesser.

The company holds market leadership in Austria and emphasizes natural raw ingredients without artificial flavors or colors. Distribution is supported by the InGoodSpirits.at cocktail platform, dedicated sub-brand microsites, Google AdWords, and organic social channels. No revenue, headcount, or external capital is disclosed in the source material.

Name

Destillerie Freihof

Legal name

Destillerie Freihof GmbH

Website

https://freihof.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Destillerie Freihof is a fifth-generation Austrian distillery founded in 1885 in Lustenau, producing premium schnapps, liqueurs, vodka, rum, and vermouth via traditional copper pot stills, and serving both consumers across 8 markets and B2B clients through white label contract filling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Craft Distilleries & Microdistilleries (THAFALAH)

Keywords

• Premium distilled spirits
• Fruit schnapps production
• Spirits contract filling
• White label distilling
• Alpine liqueurs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lustenau

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Own Brand Spirit Sales: Sale of proprietary spirit brands including Freihof 1885 schnapps and spirits, Mirtillo blueberry liqueur, edelweiss Alpine Vodka, Vreimuth vintage vermouth, Wiener Mocca coffee liqueur, and private distillery lines (Gebhard Hämmerle). Products sold through own e-commerce, retail, and distribution partners.
2. White Label & Contract Filling (Lohnabfüllung): Full-service white label spirit production and contract filling for trade, gastronomy, start-ups and international brands. Services span recipe development, production, bottling, labeling, packaging, storage, and logistics. Over 130 years of distilling tradition supporting premium positioning.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Destillerie Freihof is a traditional Austrian distillery that produces and sells premium spirits — schnapps, liqueurs, vodkas, vermouth, and Jagertee — under its own brands (Freihof 1885, Mirtillo, Vreimuth, Wiener Mocca, edelweiss, Privatbrennerei Gebhard Hämmerle). It also offers full-service white label development and contract filling (Lohnabfüllung) to other brands. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via the company's own webshop and Austrian retail, and through distribution partners in 8 countries.

Product overview

Destillerie Freihof is a traditional Austrian distillery established in 1885 in Lustenau, Vorarlberg, now in its fifth generation under Johann Drexel. The company operates as a unified distillery producing multiple branded spirits product lines: the core Freihof 1885 schnapps and spirits line (Williams Pear, Subirer, Apricot, Obstler, Raspberry, Gentian, Hazelnut, Inländer Rum, and the unique Früchteflasche with pear growing inside); the Freihof branded liqueurs and specialty spirits (Mirtillo blueberry liqueur with ready-to-drink Spritz cans, Wiener Mocca coffee liqueur, edelweiss Alpine vodka, Vreimuth vintage vermouth, Blutorangen Geist, Entendusel herbal liqueur, Nüssle hazelnut liqueur, and Jagertee); the Privatbrennerei Gebhard Hämmerle sub-brand with its premium Herzstück and Private Reserve lines; and white label/contract filling services (Lohnabfüllung) including the GINDIVIDUALIST modular gin system. All products emphasize natural ingredients without artificial flavors or colorings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Freihof 1885: Premium schnapps and spirits brand representing Austrian alpine conviviality and pure zest for life. Products include Williams Pear, Subirer, Apricot, Obstler, Raspberry, Gentian, and Hazelnut spirits.
• MIRTILLO
• Vreimuth
• Wiener Mocca
• edelweiss - the Alpine Vodka
• Privatbrennerei Gebhard Hämmerle

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• In Good SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustria's primary distribution partner for Freihof spirits, operating the InGoodSpirits.at cocktail inspiration platform. Manages both distribution logistics and cocktail content creation for Freihof products in the Austrian market.
• Marussia Beverages GermanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for Freihof products in Germany, handling wholesale distribution and market presence for the German market.
• Distilled BrandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Freihof products in England, managing the brand's presence and wholesale distribution in the UK market.
• LonacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Freihof products in Italy, managing wholesale distribution and market presence in the Italian market.
• Caves WenglercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Freihof products in Luxembourg, handling wholesale distribution in the Luxembourg market.
• Imported EnrichmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Freihof products in the USA, managing import and wholesale distribution in the American market.
• Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvincial liquor authority distribution partner for Freihof products in Ontario, Canada. LCBO operates as the provincial regulator and retailer for alcoholic beverages in Ontario.
• Nurgun GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Freihof products in Azerbaijan, handling wholesale distribution and market presence in the Azerbaijani market.
• Naber Wiener KaffeemanufakturflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna coffee manufacturer collaborating with Destillerie Freihof to develop Wiener Mocca coffee liqueur — a product that is a tribute to Vienna's legendary coffee house culture. Freihof handles distillation and production while Naber contributes coffee expertise.
• Karin KaufmannflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerbal and spice expert collaborating on the Vreimuth vintage vermouth. Karin Kaufmann developed the unique herbal blend that is added to Fidesser's bio white wine cuvée and then finished with Williams brandy at Freihof.
• Winzer-Familie FidesserflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic winegrower family supplying the bio white wine cuvée that forms the base for Vreimuth vintage vermouth. Each vintage tells its own story shaped by the season's weather and soil.
• Traditionsstickerei Hämmerle & VogelflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraditional embroidery house that individually hand-embroiders each edelweiss emblem on the edelweiss vodka bottle by hand — a loving detail that makes each bottle a unique collector's item.
• Rosi & Fridel (Sonnbergstuben / Bichlalm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginators of the legendary Entendusel herbal liqueur from Kitzbühel. The recipe was conceived by Rosi and refined by Fridel, and Entendusel is now produced with utmost care at Freihof distillery. Represents a unique Alpine heritage brand collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Underberg: German family-owned herbal-bitters producer with deep DACH distribution and a heritage positioning (founded 1846). Directly comparable to Freihof on family ownership, herbal liqueur category (analogous to Entendusel) and traditional craft positioning.
• Schladerer: Black Forest, Germany-based traditional distillery famous for its fruit brandies and schnapps. Closest functional analog to Freihof: family-owned heritage producer of premium fruit spirits using traditional pot-still methods, serving both retail and B2B channels across DACH.
• Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits: French heritage liqueur and spirits producer with broad European distribution. Comparable to Freihof's liqueur line (Mirtillo, Wiener Mocca, Nüssle) and sub-brand portfolio structure.
• Stölting Gruppe: German family-owned distillery group operating multiple craft spirits brands and contract distilling services. Direct functional peer to Freihof given its combined branded spirits portfolio plus B2B Lohnabfüllung/white-label activity.

Broad incumbents

• Berentzen-Gruppe: German-listed spirits group producing liqueurs, fruit brandies and brandies (e.g. Strothmann, Doornkaat). Comparable as a multi-brand Central European spirits manufacturer with overlapping liqueur and fruit-spirit categories to Freihof's portfolio.
• Diageo: World's largest premium spirits company. Its portfolio (e.g. Ketel One vodka, gin brands, liqueurs) competes for the same on-trade and retail shelf space that Freihof accesses via its regional distributors in 8 countries.
• Pernod Ricard: Global premium spirits major with broad portfolio including vodka, liqueurs and craft acquisitions. Sets the competitive ceiling on shelf, pricing and distributor economics for Freihof across its international markets.
• Stock Spirits Group: Central European branded spirits group (Fernet Stock, Božkov, Stock Original) with strong distribution across DACH and Italy. Overlaps with Freihof in vodka, liqueurs and contract manufacturing for the region, but at much larger scale.
• Bols: Dutch heritage distillery owned by Lucas Bols, producing liqueurs, genever and gin. Overlaps with Freihof on liqueurs, gin (GINDIVIDUALIST) and premium craft positioning, though at much greater scale and international reach.

Emerging players

• Williams & Humbert: Spanish sherry/brand house producing brandy and premium spirits under multiple sub-brands. Comparable in sub-brand portfolio structure and traditional/heritage positioning, particularly to Freihof's Hämmerle Herzstück limited-rarity line.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thedistilleryfreihof
• Instagraminstagram.com/freihof.mirtillo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freihof-destillerie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Destillerie Freihof