Aromahopping started as a travel-born idea and has grown into a focused craft producer in Mosbach, deep in Germany’s Odenwald. At its core sits a simple philosophy: combine the very best local produce with thoughtfully sourced botanicals from around the world, then use hands-on distillation and finishing to create balanced, story-driven drinks. The result is a compact but ambitious portfolio — artisanal London Dry gins plus alcohol‑free botanical alternatives — aimed at curious consumers and bars that value provenance, creativity and small-batch authenticity.

Founder and flavor director

Eric Kletti is the visible engine of Aromahopping. A globe-trotting flavor explorer, Kletti turned a flash of inspiration from a trip to Moorea into a practical pursuit: translating travel memories into distilled expressions. His approach is both romantic and pragmatic — each recipe begins as an aromatic impression (a sun-soaked citrus grove, a spice market, a tropical breeze) and is then refined with botanical science and tasting discipline until it works as a cohesive spirit. Kletti personally oversees botanical selection, blending trials and the final quality checks, giving Aromahopping its consistent voice and signature sensibility.

Signature range and brand architecture

Aromahopping presents two complementary universes under one roof.

• Inge and the Honey Bear (gin line): A collection of premium London Dry gins that pair exotic, far-travelled botanicals — Amalfi lemons, Madagascan vanilla, oriental spices — with herbs grown in Aromahopping’s own garden. The range emphasizes naturally balanced profiles that work neat, with tonic, or as the base for bar-quality cocktails. Small-batch production and hand-applied labels reinforce the brand’s artisanal positioning.
• Erna and the Penguin (alcohol-free line): Designed to mirror the intensity and mixability of the gins without alcohol. These botanical blends (example: Pingin with white grapefruit and lemongrass) are developed to perform in classic gin serves and contemporary mocktails, targeting consumers and venues seeking sophisticated zero‑percent options.

Sourcing and craftsmanship

Aromahopping’s sourcing strategy is deliberately hybrid: local garden yields (sage, sour cherries, tomatoes and other herbs) supply freshness and terroir-driven character, while a curated network of global partners provides exotic botanicals. This hybrid model enables recipes that feel both regionally anchored and cosmopolitan.

Production is artisanal and hands-on. Distillation follows London Dry principles, emphasizing vapor diffusion and careful maceration to extract pure, layered aromatics. Blending is done in small batches by experienced hands to maintain balance across botanicals. Bottles are finished manually — labels applied by hand — reinforcing the brand’s craft credentials and offering the tactile charm that specialty on-trade and DTC customers appreciate.

Brand story and consumer promise

Aromahopping positions each bottle as a “taste story.” Marketing emphasizes sensory travel: a sip that evokes a Mediterranean grove, a Southeast Asian market or an island coastline. That narrative focus helps the brand stand out in crowded gin shelves and makes it appealing for experiential hospitality settings where storytelling enhances the drinking moment.

The consumer promise is straightforward: authentic, high-quality ingredients; transparent sourcing; small-batch craft; and versatile flavor profiles that perform in both classic and modern serves. The inclusion of a zero‑alcohol line broadens accessibility, letting the brand reach non-drinking consumers without compromising on complexity.

Go-to-market and audience

Aromahopping is well-suited to premium independent bars, boutique hotels and specialty spirits shops that prioritize craft origin stories and mixability. The brand’s split portfolio also appeals to modern multi-offer venues that need elevated non‑alcoholic options for guests. Direct-to-consumer sales (via the distillery and online) complement on-trade distribution, while limited releases and seasonal expressions create reasons for repeat purchase.

Opportunities and differentiators

• Dual portfolio: alcoholic and alcohol-free lines allow Aromahopping to reach a wider audience and present package deals to hospitality partners.
• Garden-to-bottle narrative: home-grown herbs add authenticity that resonates with the sustainability- and provenance-conscious consumer.
• Travel-inspired storytelling: evocative flavor narratives position the gins as experiential, not just functional, spirits.
• Handcrafted finish: manual labelling and small-batch production give premium shelf presence and strong gifting appeal.

What to watch next

Expect Aromahopping to expand its Inge and the Honey Bear variants with seasonal or regionally themed expressions, while exploring more sophisticated zero‑alcohol formats in the Erna and the Penguin range. Collaborations with local chefs, cocktail bars or travel-themed hospitality experiences would amplify the brand’s storytelling strengths and create curated moments where the travel inspiration can be experienced directly.

Bottom line

Aromahopping is a focused craft house that succeeds by combining local Odenwald terroir with globally sourced aromatics and a travel-led narrative. With founder-led creativity, small-batch care and a dual portfolio that mirrors modern drinking habits, it has the ingredients to grow within premium on-trade and direct-to-consumer channels while maintaining a distinct, sensory-forward identity.