Our history

Hardenberg-Wilthen AG – Over 300 years of distilling expertise

Hardenberg-Wilthen AG, a family-owned company from the German state of Lower Saxony with headquarters in Nörten-Hardenberg and a branch in Wilthen, was originally founded in 1700 as Gräflich von Hardenberg’sche Kornbrennerei (English: Count of Hardenberg’s corn distillery).

1700

Hardenberg Wilthen - Gräflich von Hardenberg´sche Brennerei und Brauerei

Fritz-Dietrich von Hardenberg founds Gräflich von Hardenberg’sche Kornbrennerei.

1971

Hardenberg Wilthen - Der Lachs Restaurant

Hardenberg Wilthen - Der Lachs Liquer-Fabrik

Majority acquisition of the “Der Lachs” brand from the Der Lachs liqueur factory, founded in Gdańsk (German: Danzig) in 1598. The brand adds Original Danziger Goldwasser and Kurfürsten, a herbal liqueur, to the product range.

1992

Hardenberg Wilthen - Wilthener Weinbrennerei

Hardenberg Wilthen - C.T. Hünlich Aktiengesellschaft - Weinbrennerei Wilthen

Acquisition of the Wilthener wine distillery, which was founded in 1842, and the entire Wilthener product range, including its strongest brands – Wilthener Goldkrone and Wilthener Gebirgskräuter

1998

Hardenberg Wilthen - Willkommen auf dem Hardenberg

Hardenberg Wilthen - Wilthener Weinbrennerei 1998

Conversion into today’s Hardenberg-Wilthen AG

2006

Hardenberg Wilthen - Santa Barbara Abfüllung

Hardenberg Wilthen - Wilthener Gebirgskräuter

Founding of Santa Barbara Spirituosengesellschaft mbH together with Semper idem Underberg GmbH

2012

Hardenberg Wilthen - Das Fabrikgrundstück

HWAG acquires family brand Original Lehment Rostocker, which has been in the sales range since 1990.

2014

Our international business begins by partnering with global import brands for sales and marketing in Germany.

2019

Hardenberg Wilthen - Hardenberg Distillery

Hardenberg Wilthen - Hardenberg Distillery - Tasting

Construction and founding of the new distillery in Nörten-Hardenberg, the HARDENBERG DISTILLERY. Several new products are developed here that same year, such as KINETIC Single Estate Vodka, a new Hardenberg Korn, and Beverbach Single Malt Whiskey.

Our history

Hardenberg-Wilthen AG – Over 300 years of distilling expertise

Willkommen bei der Hardenberg-Wilthen AG