Wolfgang Thomann

Wolfgang Thomann began distilling 30 years ago using an old copper pot still, fruit from his garden, and a few determined helpers. His first schnapps was a revelation: flavorful, heartfelt, and immediately popular. The family soon expanded their experimentation and developed a new idea — their own gin. Drawing on the region’s long distilling heritage, Wolfgang focused on precise flavor and family tradition. The gin highlights botanicals harvested from the surrounding landscape — local twigs and branches that inspired the name Aeijst, derived from the regional word for branches.

Located in the steep, green hills of southern Styria, St. Nikolai im Sausal provides the scenic backdrop for the distillery. The village’s panoramic views and rooted sense of place shape the spirit of the product. Positioned in the town center opposite the town hall, the distillery is both a geographic and cultural landmark. With just under 2,300 inhabitants, St. Nikolai is relaxed and personal, where neighbours are direct and welcoming. That easygoing character, combined with the town’s expansive landscape, is exactly why the Thomann family chose to put down roots here and craft Aeijst gin from the very nature that surrounds them.