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Tradition Mexico – Tequila without compromises

The friends behind Padre azul, the new tequila in the premium segment, stand united on one matter: their passion for Mexico. “We appreciate high quality tequila, and with Padre azul we are bringing an exclusive product to Europe. We searched for the perfect distillery for a long time. At Tres Mujeres in Jalisco in the highlands of Mexico we found what we were looking for.” 100% Mexico – 100% handcraft – 100% agave.

These requirements and quality criteria apply to the whole production process, which is why each bottle also wears the sought-after quality seal from the Mexican authorities, “Consejo Regulador del Tequila” (CRT). There were no compromises when it came to the design of the bottles: they are made by hand and adorned with a 270g skull which represents the skull culture of Mexico.

Padre azul is available in three grades of maturity, depending on the length of storage. The Añejo usually spends eighteen months in French oak barrels to achieve a mature, full-bodied taste. The Reposado needs at least eight months in barrels for its subtle vanilla tone. The Blanco is a clear tequila which is bottled straight after distillation – it is soft and mild in taste. None of the three need salt or lemon – you can enjoy them neat. True to the motto: no compromises.

At the World Spirits Award, the trio was very successful: there was double gold for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul anejo, gold for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul reposado, and silver for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul blanco.

Sauerland Distillers: Regional botanicals in distinctive packaging

“The characteristic, woody and lively Sauerland botanicals distilled at Navy Strength (57.15% by vol-ume) turn the best gin we have ever produced into now also the strongest gin we have ever produced. Pure enjoyment with a strong character that lingers on the palate, refines cocktails and puts even the strongest tonic water in its place. Olaf Baumeister, TV chef and owner of Hotel Seegarten in Sundern, designed the recipe to create a balanced gin with the same botanicals, which can be enjoyed straight, as a long drink or in a cocktail.” This is how Managing Director Moritz Dimde, who is responsible for all administrative and financial matters, describes the WOODLAND project.

The artwork for the bottle design and the elaborate packaging comes from fellow partners, Till Brauckmann, Matthias Czech and Gregor Biedrzycki. Andreas Schulte and Johannes Bitter-Suermann take care of distribution and logistics, with each of them contributing their skills and professional ex-perience. Sauerland Distillers GmbH uses local, soft water for distilling. The botanicals are individually cold macerated and then mixed in, unfiltered, after distilling. To intensify the authenticity of the gin, the labels have been reduced to the essentials: a plain, high-quality typography. The gin is filled in 500 ml bottles in the no-frill style of chemist bottles.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Woodland Sauerland Dry Gin (Spirit of the Year & World Spirits Award 2019).

Brennerei Südstraße – Aroma has top priority

A love for old orchards was the starting platform, followed by the first distilling efforts, before a distillery was installed in Schwanau-Ottenheimam Rhein in south Baden, between Strasbourg and Freiburg in 2006. At the same time, Lutz Weide started his training as a state registered distiller (2008) and fine brandy sommelier (2012), additionally gaining WSET Level 2 in London.

Since 2014, distilling has taken place in a new facility with an ‘aromat’. This is a booster with a 14 metre copper loop, whose design makes possible a gentle, uniform heating of the alcohol vapour which affords absolute priority to the aroma. The results are excellent, but double-distillation in low wine and middle cut methods is still used. Only their own fruit from an approximately four hectare meadow orchard is used. They use all the common fruits, but also regional specialities like quince, pears and apples. The demand for absolute top quality is delivered by the family through hand selection of the fruit, meticulous cleanliness as well as a great deal of patience at the distilling apparatus. The various spice spirits of the so-called ‘South Street Series’ are a unique speciality, manufactured using sieve distilling methods.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for South Street Aniseed Spirit, and silver for South Street No. 1 London Dry Gin, South Street Caraway Spirit, South Street Plum and Caraway Spirit from the oak barrel.