Franz Simon was master distiller at the Lagler specialty distillery. He can share the vacuum distillation technology there for his own fine spirits.
Many a career comes unexpectedly, including that of Franz Simon from Weinberg an der Raab in the municipality of Fehring. After more than 33 years in the steel industry, he lost his job in 2009 and had to reorient himself. Due to an accident, the Lagler distillery in southern Burgenland contacted him because they had heard that Franz Simon was an excellent amateur distiller. So the then 51-year-old went back to school and trained as a master distiller and fine brandy sommelier.
However, thanks to the technical possibilities at his new workplace, Simon has also perfected his in-house noble brandies. There are now 43 varieties of noble brandies, whiskies and gins in his range. Then, at the beginning of 2018, came the crowning achievement of his passion: at the state awards, Franz Simon won four silver and six gold medals, of which three were variety winners and his gin was even the state winner. Accordingly, the former amateur distiller was also awarded the title of "Noble Distiller of the Year".