1882

On July 1st 1882 in Borghorst, Ludwig Dwersteg founds a distillery under the name “Ludwig Dwersteg junior”. He was born as the fourth son of the local brewer Ludwig Dwersteg who was member of one of the oldest families resident in Borghorst. As a fully trained merchant, distiller and brewer he initially starts his business in his brothers’ distillery.

1888

Due to his know-how, profound subject-specific knowledge and enormous effort, out of the small business he builds up a considerable spirits company, wine wholesale and brewery (till 1911) of significant size. In order to serve the increasing needs of the continuous growth, Ludwig Dwersteg junior acquires a property at the Altenberger Straße, which still is today’s location of the company.

1923

Ludwig Dwersteg passes the business on to his sons Ludwig and Bernhard. Only two years later, on June 27th 1925 he dies.

1931

Bernhard Dwersteg retires from the partnership, making young Ludwig Dwersteg sole proprietor. The outbreak of the Second World War interrupts any further expansion of the business for some years.

1945

During the post-war-years the Dwersteg Distillery produces and distributes alcohol-free hot and cold drinks. However, as soon as the Monetary Reform was passed, the production of wine and spirits recommences.

1952

Ludwig Dwersteg junior, son of Ludwig Dwersteg, joins the company. He is one of the first in successfully completing the Master Craftsman’s Certificate in Distillation at the Chamber of Craftsmen in Berlin. Consequently, the business flourishes in the following years.

1980

Ludger Teriete, a nephew of Ludwig Dwersteg Junior, becomes a joint-partner in the business, which in the meantime evolved into a commercial partnership. Hence, the continuance of the company is secured, combining the long lasting experience of Ludwig Dwersteg junior and the fresh verve of Ludger Teriete.

1987

Ludwig Dwersteg Junior retires from the business. Ludger Teriete becomes the sole managing partner of the Dwersteg Distillery.

1992

The Dwersteg Distillery acquires the rights to the symbol of the “Friedensreiter” from the Münster wine and spirit merchant “Niemer”.

1992

Together with one of the last living Bauhaus Artists and follower of the Kandinsky School, Heinrich Neuy, the Dwersteg Distillery produces a fusion between painting and the art of distilling: “Hommage à Kandinsky”.

1993

Ludger Teriete takes out a patent on the symbol of the “Friedensreiter” to protect all product groups. Furthermore he founds the licensing company Friedensreiter GmbH. The first licence partner is going to be the private brewery Rolinck in Steinfurt and further partners follow. The brand “Friedensreiter” is consequently expanded and develops an association with high quality products from Westphalia.

1996

With the launch of the product line “Dwersteg Organic” the Dwersteg Distillery becomes one of the first manufacturers worldwide to produce finest liqueurs and spirits using exclusively organic and fairly traded ingredients.

2001

At “Bio-Fach 2001”, the world´s leading trade fair for organic products the Dwersteg´s Chocolate Cream Liqueur receives the award “Product of the Year” in the organic food category.

2002

Eurotoques – an international association of top-chefs, whose members include Paul Bocuse and Eckhard Witzigmann – names the Dwersteg Distillery as their “official contract supplier”.

2004

Dwersteg becomes an official partner of the Expo 2005 in Japan and is the exclusive supplier to the German Pavilion.