In 1990, Hans Reisetbauer planted his first apple orchard. Soon after, Hans gained notoriety in 1995 by winning Schnapps of the Year at the Destillata Specialist Trade Fair. Reisetbauer has been named Master Distiller of the Year by the Austrian gourmet guide A la Carte a number of times. Hans Reisetbauers dedication to his orchards, obsessive attention to detail in fermentation and distillation, as well as constant quest for new innovations has led him to be considered one of the finest producers of Eau de Vie in the world. In order to control the quality of his products, Hans grows as much fruit and vegetables as possible on his own property, including the grains that go into his vodka, gins, and whiskies. He has also done careful comparisons to find the best water for use in his process, exclusively using spring water from Mhlviertel. As Hans explains, Temperature, time and aeration during fermentation, as well as condition of raw material are important factors influencing the quality of the final product.