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Edward Snell – Whisky from South Africa

Edward Snell founded a trading company in Durban in 1848, from which the oldest spirit company in South Africa developed over 160 years. Following an eventful history, the company is now once again in the hands of the family. Besides their own brands they also sell numerous local and international drink brands, mostly in various markets in Africa and the Middle East.

The wide range of products includes whisky, brandy, vodka, rum, gin, tequila and cognac. One outstanding label is Firstwatch Whisky with its new look, a striking, square bottle design. Consumer demand for a whisky with an American taste profile has been perfected over time and is presented today as a balanced blend of the finest imported rye and grain. Whether pure, on the rocks or mixed – its diversity makes it popular with many different target groups and successful in one of the largest spirit segments in South Africa.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Firstwatch Whisky.

Ehrenwert GmbH: One recipe – two families

One recipe – two families. Each family has its own carefully guarded secret recipe, and with the Lücke family this remained in the hands of grandfather Heinz and later his son Dieter for many decades. Long enough, thought sons Thomas and Christian. In any case, it is the ‘Felsenfeuer’ herb liqueur that once made the Lücke Distillery one of the most important in Münsterland. After the war they continued the success story which first began in the 18th century, with this herb liqueur, using the recipe that Heinz Lücke worked out. In the 1950s everyone was talking about it, but in the 1960s the era of the distillery and the herb liqueur ended. But not for good – 60 years later it celebrated its resurrection with the ‘Freudenfeuer’.

Whilst searching for a distillery, Thomas and Christian kept to family tradition, as their grandmother was a Sasse, and the Sasses’ fine distillery in Schöppingen is still well known today. Following a traditional recipe from 1947 the new liqueur is distilled in small batches and is bottled by hand after a ten-day rest period. Ready to enjoy: neat and ice cold like in the time of our grandfathers, or smoother, on ice with lightly pressed orange zest, or as a basis for a long drink with tonic water or ginger ale. To old times and new friends!

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Freudenfeuer.

Emperador Distillers – Filipino premium products

Emperador Distillers (EDI) is the largest spirits company in the Philippines and introduced their first brandy label in 1990. Before that, established manufacturers of gin and rum dominated the country’s spirit market. EDI managed to create a demand for brandy through dynamic marketing and high product quality. These days, this is sold in 40 countries in Asia, North America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. With Emperador Light, in 2010 EDI reacted to the growing market for alcoholic drinks with low alcohol content, thereby targeting younger consumers.

In 2014 and 2015, EDI took over Whyte and Mackay in Great Britain and entered the market for Scotch whisky, and with the purchase of the brandy and sherry segments of Beam Suntory – Bodegas Fundador – in February 2016, the entire spirits business was strengthened. As a global company they are now able to benefit from a worldwide sales network which is represented by a wide range of brandies and whiskies on the market. In addition, there is also rum and aromatised vodka, gin and tequila under the brand name ‘The BaR’.

EDI has a comprehensive countrywide sales network, which gives them a clear competitive advantage. Over 22 sales offices distribute the products to more than 121,000 sales points – involving around 1,000 employees and more than 500 vehicles. Most of the sales representatives are employed internally, which has contributed to higher motivation and thus to the strong increase in sales.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Rum Zabana Premium White.

Paul & Sons Spirits: The highest quality is a family matter

“Let us distil a gin” – with these five words, the journey to one of the most currently in demand London Dry Gins of the Palatinate region started five years ago. Inspired by new quality brands in the region and a lifelong passion for the subject, it was the logical consequence for Michael Paul. Uncompromising work followed, resulting in the London Dry Gin ‘Paul’ after 26 attempts. Michael Paul may have initiated it, but the foundation of its success and distinctive quality is a family matter. The three sons as well as their wives have taken on essential design, production and marketing tasks.

Manufacturing has taken place from the beginning on the premises of the distilling master Fedor Back at the traditional distillery in Dudenhofen, where the 300-litre copper pot still transforms the high-quality macerate into the ‘Paul’ so highly prized by enthusiasts, that also forms the basis for ‘Paulchen’. The distinctive taste experience of both London Dry Gins is easily accounted for: absolute care in every phase, handpicked botanicals and the painstaking supervision of the brewery process in small batches. This year, a new member is joining the family: ‘Pauline’ can hardly wait to earn its place in the hearts of true gin fans. Like all other gins, it is also filled into a stylish pharmacy bottle – a total of 5,000 a year.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Pauline.