Our story
We knew nothing about flavours, wine or bottling. What we had was a standard to live up to. And today it stands in more than 600 shops, at six airports and at events by Spotify, Nike and adidas.
Stockists in Germany, from KaDeWe to Manufactum.
Airports with Gebr. Heinemann. Plus Discover Airlines business class.
stars from 468 reviews in our shop.
Investors. Everything built ourselves.
01 — The evening
A well-thought-out menu, perfect wines. Only the aperitif was sweet and artificial. There was none that lived up to the same standards as the kitchen and the wine. So we made one.
02 — The question
Almost everything lemon-flavoured tastes of the same flavouring. We wanted to know what a real one tastes like. That turned into two and a half years at the kitchen table and 650 raw ingredients in a spreadsheet.
At the kitchen table
Two and a half years, 650 raw ingredients, every sample numbered.
03 — The trick
Our eighth attempt was built on water, like every aperitif. And it tasted like it. Then we replaced the water with wine, and suddenly the aperitif had depth.
04
We wrote to fifteen winemakers and visited them all in one week. Only Nico Espenschied from Rheinhessen didn't reply. Then, on the Friday before, he did: Come by, I'm your man. We changed our route. He still is.
05 — Attempt 83
Bright Lemon is our ninth flavour, and it took 83 attempts. What sets 83 apart from 82? We no longer know. Nico said it was the first drink over 15% ABV that he genuinely enjoys.
Bottle and sphere
A bottle nobody throws away. After around two thousand designs, there it was.
06 — 22 August 2021
To manufacturers, an aperitif meant water, alcohol, sugar and colouring. Nobody wanted to produce it the way we wanted it. So we did it ourselves. We filled the first ten thousand bottles by hand: six people, a thousand bottles a day. When the power went out, the neighbours lent us cable reels.
The first bottles
The first bottling days
Six people, a thousand bottles a day
Samples, labelled by hand
„ODE is an absolute highlight, not just in looks but in taste too.“
Esquire
„We really loved ODE!“
essen&trinken
„The jewel of any bar.“
BZ
„ODE is living proof against the argument that you have to go south of the Brenner Pass to find a decent aperitif.“
FAZ
4.8 out of 5 · 468 reviews
★★★★★
„I'm such a design nerd, or rather, I love it when something has been made with heart and by hand. That's ODE…“
Marja B. Review of the Twin Box Verifizierter Kauf
★★★★★
„Truly exceptional in taste and design. A visual highlight in any professional or home bar.“
Andreas P. Review of the Twin Box Verifizierter Kauf
★★★★★
„ODE RUBY WOOD tastes great! Pleasantly bitter and not over-sweetened. We drink it neat on ice.“
Maria R. Review of Ruby Wood Verifizierter Kauf
★★★★★
„We tried both drinks as long drinks at Hotel Central in Hof and had to have both. No sooner said than ordered and enjoyed! Super“
Ralf W. Review of Ruby Wood Verifizierter Kauf
“The first glass of the day should be the best.”
The founders
Two designers. Thorsten spent over twelve years designing at adidas, Stefan designed brands for agencies all over Germany. No investors, our own recipe, everything built up ourselves.
Bright Lemon and Ruby Wood in one box. Or find ODE near you.