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Freimeisterkollektiv Launches Its Own Academy
Freimeisterkollektiv brings together Europe’s finest distillers—and now distills itself with its own equipment. Next up are courses and a residency program through the Freimeister Academy.
Freimeisterkollektiv now has a distillation system from Arnold Holstein. Photo: Clemens Niedenthal
It all began with art. Theo Ligthart—a Dutch-born, Vienna-trained visual artist—originally displayed his first distillate in a gallery. “Das Korn” was a kind of discursive meta-commentary on drinking culture. And, importantly, a very good spirit.
Ligthart has stayed true to both discourse and quality distillation. His Freimeisterkollektiv unites what, in the internationally influenced cocktail world, had long seemed unlikely: Berlin’s leading cocktail bars and Europe’s best distillers, such as Sasse Feinbrennerei from Münsterland, fruit brandy specialist Lorenz Humbel, and the avant-garde fruit distiller Katharina Zott.
The name Freimeisterkollektiv reflects its collaborative approach: multiple producers often work together on a single product. For example, Lorenz Humbel collaborated with Ralf Rüller from Berlin’s The Barn roastery to create a cold-brew coffee spirit. And for a series of pre-bottled cocktails, distillers teamed up with Berlin bartenders.
In a beautiful Gründerzeit courtyard in Kreuzberg, these ideas are developed and poured into beautifully designed bottles. Drinks are cuvetted, and sometimes twelve crates of Sicilian oranges are peeled to flavor a liqueur.
Until now, Freimeisterkollektiv lacked the ability to distill on-site. That changed with a €100,000 Arnold Holstein distillation system at Erkelenzdamm, funded in part via crowdfunding. “No matter if I’m in New York or Japan,” says Theo Ligthart, “ambitious distillation equipment usually comes from southern Germany, most often from Arnold Holstein.” The collaboration has been very smooth: “Our reputation in the scene has definitely helped.”
Courses, Academy, and ‘Distillers in Residence’
Going forward, Freimeisterkollektiv will offer distillation courses and host Distillers in Residence through the Freimeister Academy. New spirits are also planned, including a Japanese-style shochu distilled from leftover sake mash, in collaboration with the Reigen sake brewery in Berlin-Wedding.
