The Pink Rebellion – Gin, Grit & Deux Frères

Right outside Zurich’s urban grind, brothers Gian and Florian Grundböck are splashing vibrant colour onto Switzerland’s drinks scene. Born rebels, lifelong flavour chasers, and self-made distillers, the duo behind Deux Frères serve up more than just good taste–they craft sensory experiences that hit on every level: bold flavour, natural ingredients, and serious visual punch.

Their journey began on the family farm, where childhood experiments became grown-up ambitions. Today, their gin is distilled in a former Zurich railway hall, but the grit behind the glamour runs deep. "Building a sustainable business without investors is much harder than we ever imagined," they say. "It takes enormous effort, sacrifice, and time, but doing it together as brothers has been one of the most rewarding parts. We’ve always been close, but this journey brought us even closer."

Their first drop, Deux Frères Gin, set the scene: a 25-botanical blend with a strong juniper core, floral brightness, and a science-meets-magic moment when it transforms into a punchy pink the second tonic hits the glass. And no, that colour shift wasn’t a fluke. "It was intentional from the start. My brother is a food engineer and we always agreed–our drinks should taste incredible, look beautiful, and be made only with natural ingredients."

That obsession with detail runs through every release. The signature gin is housed in a dark apothecary bottle to protect its pink hue from UV rays. The botanicals are meticulously sourced. Even the limited editions get the full Deux Frères treatment–À La Mer, their coastal-inspired distiller’s cut, infused dill and seaweed into the mix for a sip that felt like summer in a glass.

But they don’t stop at gin. There’s a crisp vermouth made from local Swiss grapes, and L'Été Rosé–a collaboration with an organic Provence winery–that brings the warmth of the Riviera to your glass. Their sparkling wine La Fête, and its alcohol-free sibling La Fête sans, are fast becoming cult favourites. "Beetroot surprised me the most," one brother admits. "It really grew on me. It’s in La Fête sans, and makes a killer Negroni twist."

Their playlist? Think slow sunsets and long nights: Ride Like the Wind (Joey Negro remix), Australia by Mango, and something from Gizmo Varillas. Easygoing with a kick–just like the drinks.

And sustainability? It’s more than a buzzword. "We’re working on reusing one of the by-products from our gin production right now. If it works, we’ll reveal it in autumn–I’ll send you a sample."

Deux Frères isn’t just a drinks brand. It’s a story of brotherhood, grit, curiosity, and creativity–all distilled into a bottle. From Zurich, with attitude.

"Building a sustainable business without investors is much harder than we ever imagined"

Gian and Florian Grundböck, the duo behind Deux Frères Gin. From colour-changing spirits to organic rosé, they’re shaking up Swiss drinks with flair, flavour, and sustainability |Deux Frères Gin: Zurich’s Pink-Hued Rebels of Distilling

Bottle of Rose held in a hand against the blue fo the sea and blue sky | Deux Frères Gin: Zurich’s Pink-Hued Rebels of Distilling