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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.

Family of Hounds – Sought and found

Andrea Frigerio and his English wife, Lina, live in Monaco with their two dogs, Spot and Magda, two wonderful additions to the family. Since they started taking the two for walks in town, they have made many new friends. Andrea and Lina used to be red wine drinkers, who spent their holidays in the wine hills of Italy and France. It was only in 2013, while visiting a country estate in England, that they discovered their love for a good G & T. This developed into a passion, and their discussions soon revolved around what it would be like to create their own gin.

They tasted intensively, discarded aromas they didn’t like, and extracted the aromas they did. Together with the master distiller in an old distillery in Piedmont, they created their recipe for the gin: juniper, lemon and orange peel, pink grapefruit, lavender, thyme, cardamom, ginger and coriander. The first three ingredients come from Italy, the rest from Asia. “The juniper is really loud, like a brightly lit disco floor, and the other botanicals dance around it. Together, they are like a lively, attention-seeking dog that can’t sit still.”

In the future, they are looking to establish a small family of spirits, from gin to vodka and from grappa to vermouth – unmistakable in taste, but accessible to everyone. The core of the philosophy is going out with good friends, enjoying a good meal and even better spirits. The first step has already been taken …

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Family of Hounds Gin.

Fairytale Distillery: Gin as an affair of the heart

Thomas Gottwald and his team founded their Fairytale Distillery in 2018 in Ardelve, in the North West Highlands of Scotland, overlooking the lochs in the shadow of the mountains of the Isle of Skye. The heart of the distillery, the copper still, is located in a small witch’s cottage on an island in a pond.

Thomas’ collaboration with German botanists Martin and Stephan was to prove fruitful: within two years, the distillery achieved world-class status in 2020 for its handcrafted, exclusive gins that combine traditional ingredients with a subtle blend of locally available botanicals and herbs. An important component of the process is the use of spring water from the Brand Allt Mor na Dornie mountain stream. The combination of Martin and Stephan’s botanical expertise, Hans-Peter Schmidt’s copper still, Thomas’ attention to detail with the spring water is used to create the filtered and unfiltered gins that continue the success.

Some of the original gins were upgraded to Navy Strength versions; the higher alcohol content significantly improved both the taste and the aroma. Other versions have also been created, such as Classic, Oriental, Floral and Herbal Navy Strength. Two absinthe variants were added to the growing number of gins: the traditional La Fee Verte (green fairy) with an unconventional concept, and the La Fee Noire (black fairy), based on a wonderful recipe from the late 18th century.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, there was Gold for Highland Gin TOM and Navigator 57° 17', and Silver for The Dornie Dram and Highland Gin Infused Gin Red Fairy.