WOB Destillerie Wolfram Ortner: Setting off into the future
High-quality, handcrafted products are made at Wolfram Ortner's distillery and coffee company in the Carinthian Nock-Land region. The products are available in the WOB shop there or online (www.wob.at). The 'World Spirits' brand has also been making waves, contributing to the improvement of international spirit culture. This involves World Spirits Academy courses to become a Master of World Spirits.
It all started in 1989 with the aim of producing perfect distillates, setting trends and leaving a recognisable WOB mark through innovation. Distillates, medicinals, coffee and cigar distillates, essences, 'parfum de vie' and Café dö WOB: Ortner's mark is evident in every product. The rum boom started in 2016 with a white and a blonde light rum; in the first year, six different barrels were produced and primarily stored in barriques made of Limousin oak. On 25 November 2019, there was an explosion at the distillery, which set the course for the future even before the 60th birthday of the passionate distiller, Wolfram Ortner. The large site with the fermentation tanks suffered total destruction; a small copper still is now displayed in the distillation room in memory of better times.
At the beginning of 2000, there was a switch to smoked and not toasted Limousin oak barrels, following the bourbon model. The result of the longer storage are special creations. In 2024, the contents of the last barrels will be emptied for bottling into vintages: rum, apple, wine lees. More time will be invested in art. WOBart is highly regarded and includes lots of new sculptures and installations, as well as pictures and design items. Another focus is the project IWS.tv videos (also on YouTube) with the Inside World Spirits Shots and the formats Shorts, Fibel and Flash.
At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Omega Weinhefe Holz (wine lees, wood) (Spirit of the Year 2024), gold for KGB Kräuter-Gewürz Bitter, FAP Rum XV, FAP Whisky XV, FAP Brandy XV, Omega Apfel 2002 Barrique and Omega Apfel 2000 Barrique.
90,7 WOB-Points - KGB Kräuter-Gewürz Bitter 2023 - Gold
WOB Destillerie Wolfram Ortner, Österreich, 9546 Bad Kleinkirchheim, www.wob.at
Fragrance: Multi-faceted, aromatic bitter, some Boonekamp borrowings, well coordinated spice and herb range, fresh and fruity fruit in the background, coffee, Tonka bean, citrus, bitter oranges, black tea, vermouth, mint, lemon balm, gingerbread spices. Taste: Great balance of botanicals and bitter, very typical herb and spice concept, citrus, yarrow, hyssop, Tonka bean, a lot of roots in the basis, gentian, angelica root, thyme, cloves, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg, bitter orange peels, somewhat rum-like, discreet sugar sweetness, subtly warming ginger pungency, stimulating bitter and sweet interplay, tight body, very harmonious, long-lasting finish.
95,7 WOB-Points - Omega Weinhefe 2015 Barrique 2015 - Double-Gold
WOB Destillerie Wolfram Ortner, Österreich, 9546 Bad Kleinkirchheim, www.wob.at
Fragrance: A dream of wine yeast in wood, most intense variety presentation, absolutely typical, yeasty, grape-like, berry-like, doughy, powerful fruit ester, orange zest, apple, pear, dried fruit, raisins, brioche, perfectly matured wood, coal-like, smoky, tobacco-like, leathery, delicate floral facets. Taste: Perfomance of two stars on the palate, massive wine yeast, vinous touch, aromatic fruit ester, citrus, dried pear, dried apple, fruit peel- and skin-like, extremely mineral, delicately iodic, leather, tobacco, dark chocolate, oily and yeasty, compact, tight body, somewhat subtle length, extremely intense finish, absolute high end product. (Spirit of the Year 2024)
93,7 WOB-Points - FAP Rum XV 15 - Gold
WOB Destillerie Wolfram Ortner, Österreich, 9546 Bad Kleinkirchheim, www.wob.at
Fragrance: Compact aroma diversity, clear rum and ester characteristic with tertiary proportions, fruit ester, orange peels, sugar cane juice, molasses, dried fruit, rosehip, artichoke, vanilla, darker caramel, hazelnut, coconut, blossom honey, roasty and woody, delicately smoky and coaly, leathery, almost iodine, black tea, mocha, delicate herbal notes, sage, floral background. Taste: Extension of the interesting interplay of aromas, molasses, a lot of fruit ester, banana, passion fruit, rosehip, artichoke, delicate raspberry, sugar cane juice, distinct coffee, vanilla, coaly wood, delicately leathery and smoky, somewhat darker caramel, bitter sweet chocolate, malty sweetness, good tightness and length, subtle aromatic sweetness in the finish.
93,3 WOB-Points - FAP Whisky XV 15 - Gold
WOB Destillerie Wolfram Ortner, Österreich, 9546 Bad Kleinkirchheim, www.wob.at
Fragrance: Attractive, matured aroma image, very broad grain base, malt and smoked malt, delicately fruity, pear- and banana-like, leathery, roasty, subtly coal-like, peaty and iodic, mineral-like, delicate vanilla, sponge cake, caramel, honeycomb, dried fruit, coffee, bitter sweet chocolate. Taste: Distinct whisky typicality on the palate, grainy and malty, a lot of smoked malt, yeasty and estery, iodic and salty, smoky and roasty, vanilla, caramel, toffee, delicately nutty, malty-yeasty sweetness, compact, tight body, persistent length, delicate dark chocolate in the finish.
92,3 WOB-Points - FAP Brandy XV 15 - Gold
WOB Destillerie Wolfram Ortner, Österreich, 9546 Bad Kleinkirchheim, www.wob.at
Fragrance: Intense, ripened stylistics, broad brandy aroma spectrum, strong product maturity, a lot of tertiary notes, quince, orange, raisins, leather, vanilla, sponge cake, cold coffee, coaly wood facets, caramel, dark chocolate, mineral background. Taste: Very typical transition of aromas on the palate, harmony of wood and brandy, fruity and grape-like, a lot of mature ester, delicate citrus proportions, quince, dried pear, dates, raisins, dark caramel, dark chocolate, forest honey, malty-yeasty sweetness, good tightness and length, balanced concept, juicy and soft finish.
90,3 WOB-Points - Omega Apfel 2002 Barrique 2002 - Gold
WOB Destillerie Wolfram Ortner, Österreich, 9546 Bad Kleinkirchheim, www.wob.at
Fragrance: Classic aroma spectrum with strong maturity, a lot of tertiary notes, almost brandy associations, vanilla, caramel, cold coffee, leather, delicately cider apple and quince-like, dried apples, strongly charred wood notes in the base, somewhat balsamic appeals, green and herbal background. Taste: Identical aroma combination on the palate, strongly matured apple fruit, apple peel, dried apples, dried pears, espresso, coaly wood aspects, still a lot of wooden tannins, balsamic notes, green walnuts, good body and harmony.
92 WOB-Points - Omega Apfel 2014 Barrique 2014 - Gold
WOB Destillerie Wolfram Ortner, Österreich, 9546 Bad Kleinkirchheim, www.wob.at
Fragrance: Coherent interplay of two ripe partners, intensely matured cider apple aromas, ripe wood presentation, dried fruit, raisins, brandy associations, natural oxidation and green fruit notes in balance, green nuts, leather, tobacco, slightly smoky, rum-like appeals, matured associations of brandy, great selection of wood. Taste: Aromatic transition on the palate, aged, cider-like apples, acidulous freshness, well-balanced roast and wood aromas, subtly coal-like, leathery, tobacco-like, smoky, mineral-like, a touch of lovage, slightly balsamic aspects, dark chocolate, persistent alcohol sweetness, compact, tight body, good length, balanced finish, perfect harmony.
