FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 36 OF 40

A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY

f ever there was a gin to represent the final sprint of this virtual journey, then Windspiel has arrived at exactly the right moment!


This tour has taken rather longer than planned, but after dozens of stops, countless stories and more than a few cocktails, there are still a few more destinations before I finally make it back home.


The branding and bottle of Windspiel are beautiful, but it is the story behind the gin that really makes it special.


This is a true field-to-bottle spirit, made using potatoes grown at the Weilerhof Farm in the volcanic soils of western Germany’s Eifel region.


Potatoes are not the first ingredient you might associate with gin, but they provide the foundation for Windspiel.


Once harvested, the potatoes are processed and distilled into a smooth potato-based alcohol before being redistilled with a carefully selected botanical lineup of juniper, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, lavender and lemon peel. The finished gin is bottled at 47% ABV.


The name Windspiel is a clever nod to both the elegant nature of the gin and German history.


In German, a Windspiel can refer to a wind chime, but it is also the traditional name for a greyhound — a breed particularly associated with King Frederick the Great of Prussia, who was famously devoted to his dogs.

Frederick is also central to Germany’s love affair with the potato. Although potatoes had arrived in Europe much earlier, it was Frederick who recognised their importance and actively encouraged their cultivation in Prussia during the 18th century. The famous story that he placed soldiers around potato fields to encourage farmers to steal and plant them is probably more legend than fact, but there is no doubt that his campaigns helped potatoes become a staple food.


Today, potatoes are deeply woven into German culture, with regional dishes and traditions built around them. The affection for Frederick — known as “Old Fritz” — is still evident at his tomb in the gardens of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, where visitors have long been known to leave potatoes in tribute to the king who helped popularise them.


The potato base gives Windspiel a wonderfully creamy mouthfeel, with juniper leading the way, followed by gentle spice and floral notes. Despite the 47% ABV, it is remarkably smooth and the higher strength allows the botanicals to shine through beautifully.


Although Old Fritz and Hansel and Gretel belong to very different chapters of German history, they are both part of a wider story of a country shaped by agriculture, hardship and folklore. Frederick the Great helped turn the humble potato into a national staple, while tales collected centuries later by the Brothers Grimm preserved memories of a time when food scarcity was a very real fear.


“From field to bottle: a gin born from volcanic soil, potatoes and the legacy of Old Fritz.”





I’ve kept the serve simple:


Windspiel Gin & Tonic
Windspiel Gin
Premium tonic
A generous wedge of orange


The orange lifts the citrus notes and makes for a beautifully balanced serve — a fitting tribute to a gin that connects the land, history and craftsmanship of Germany in one bottle.




"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."