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Georg Hemmeter – XUXU, Escorial, SILLA EL FUERTE

Georg Hemmeter – strawberry drinks with exceptional flavour guaranteed

The name Georg Hemmeter – a company of the Underberg Group – stands for innovative spirits, in particular the XUXU range. The fresh and fruity strawberry drink contains 66 percent fruit plus crystal-clear vodka, rounded off with a dash of lime. The harmony between the sweetness of the fruit and just 15% alcohol by volume is created using a special production method. XUXU Ten, the little luxury in a 250 ml aluminium bottle with only 10% alcohol by volume, is dressed to party – it is still relatively new to the market, yet is already at home in all the world’s top party venues.
XUXU can be served in so many different ways: chilled, neat, on crushed ice, as a dessert topping, with sparkling wine or with other mixers – XUXU tastes heavenly and offers fresh and fruity pleasure. Welcome to Berrydise!

Initially the absolute top star in Greece, XUXU is now also number 1 in Russia, and extremely popular in Turkey and Italy too.


XUXU Strawberry & Vodka Drink and XUXU Ten won Gold at the World Spirits Award 2014.

Yerevan Brandy Company – Ararat: Cultural heritage from Armenia

The history of wine-growing in Armenia dates back over 3,000 years, and brandy has been distilled for over 150 years. Businessman Nerses Tairjanz, inspired by his cousin Vasily Tairov, a wine-growing expert, founded a wine and schnapps factory in the capital Yerevan in 1877. His entrepreneurial spirit and curiosity were his starting capital, the natural resources lay in the ideal conditions of the Ararat valley for the quality of the grapes. In a few decades, the Armenian brandy gained recognition far and wide.

In 1899, the company was sold to the Russian merchant dynasty Schustow, a large alcohol distributer in Eastern Europe. At the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, the brandy was awarded the ‘Grand Prix’ and received the right to be called ‘Cognac’. In 1922, Armenia became a Soviet Republic and the company was nationalised. It had a monopoly on the manufacture of brandy in the Armenian SSR and brought in high tax revenues over 70 years. Following the demise of the USSR and the new founding of the state of Armenia in 1991, the company lost the monopoly. In 1998, it was privatised and sold for 30 million US dollars to the Pernod Ricard Group. More than 90 percent of the products of the Yerevan Brandy Company are exported worldwide to 35 countries. The flagship brand is Ararat Brandy, of which there are varieties stored in a ‘treasure chamber’ for decades.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Ararat Ani and Ararat Akhtamar, and silver for Ararat Nairi.

Casa Maestri: A long, loyal love of tequila

The Destiladora del Valle de Tequila was founded in the year 2000 by Michael and Celia Maestri, who come from families with deep roots in the Mexican tequila industry. Together, the couple have been involved in the production of tequila for over 70 years – perfect conditions for extra smooth tequila. The result of these efforts has resonated around the world. In addition, they produce for 90 other companies.

Casa Maestri was able to establish itself as the leading contract manufacturer of tequila in Mexico and the eleventh largest exporter within a relatively short time, despite the traditional main competitors. The flagship brand Reserva de MFM is a homage to the blue agave that is cultivated in the hills of Tequila, Jalisco. For this purpose, Michael Maestri conceived a special aroma and taste profile with the well-known Maestra Tequilera Ana Maria Romero.

Priority is given to agaves with a higher sugar content as a basis for higher alcohol production during the fermentation and an increase accordingly of the ester volumes as a basis for more taste. The removal of as many leaves as possible reduces the bitterness and ensures a purer aroma in the end product. The piñas are cooked for a long time in traditional ovens with thick stone walls, making the fibres softer and converting the complex starches into fermentable sugars. After hashing and grinding, the syrup is fermented freely in large tanks. The longer the process, the tangier and more aromatic the tequila is. It is distilled in 5,000-litre copper pot stills.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Blanco Casa Maestri Reserva de MFM, Reposado Casa Maestri Reserva de MFM and Añejo Casa Maestri Reserva de MFM.