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Aura Proizvodi: Delicacies from Croatia

This family business invests a great deal of handicraft and devotion into every product. Aside from jams made of figs, plums, dandelion, cornel cherries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, apricots, oranges and cinnamon, they offer 29 brandies made from fruits and herbs, as well as four gins. The basis of all these is homemade brandy from pomace, pears or apples. This is used for Biska (mistletoe brandy), Medenica (honey brandy) and Teranino (red wine liqueur), spirits made of figs, carob, cornel cherries, almonds, olives, peppermint, plums, rose blossom, sage, forest fruits, wild apples, wild pears and even more besides. The product range also includes a herb liqueur with wormwood, Millefrutti (made of macerated wild fruits), Biska extra (made of white mistletoe), Limoncello, Orancello, Fernet Amaro 78, the first Croatian aperitif Ora d’Oro and the new Premium Pelinkovac Victoris. The product range is headed by Premium Gin Karbun (made of wheat distillate, juniper berries and 20 spices). The gin is filtered through active carbon that is also offered when serving. The products are sold at wine shops, delicatessens, hotels, restaurants and airports. They have their own shops in Hum, the smallest town in the world, in Buzet, the town of truffles, in Novigrad, in Grožnjanu, the artists’ village, in Porec, Motovun, Rovinj and Pula. They also supply to Rijeka, Split, Vrbnik on the island of Krk and the island of Cres. Starting in 2024, they have opened shops in Slovenia as well.

At the World Spirits Award, this Master Class Distillery 2026 won Gold for Aura Premium Pelinkovac Victoris, Aura Limoncello and Aura Teranino, and Silver for Aura Fernet Amaro 78, Aura Gin Karbun and Orancello.

Nyborg Distillery – Danish pioneer in organic production

In the port of Nyborg – at a good location on the E20 – a new meeting point for ‘spiritual’ and culinary experiences emerged. Since the opening in summer 2017, Niels and Nicolai Rømer, creative entrepreneurs and well-known organic pioneers, have been following the objective of creating an attractive place to stop on the way through Denmark – for locals as well as tourists.

In the distillery, the specialities are whisky, rum, gin, snaps (Aquavit) and brandy based on regional organic products – fruit from Fünen, the country’s third largest island. Experienced employees work with a passion to bring top quality into the bottle – and also produce bespoke spirits. At the Nyborg Distillery, customers can buy a whole barrel, which will be looked after according to their wishes, from the choice of fruit to the filling, including advice on storage, aromas and more.

Part of the building is used for gastronomy: with a bar, café and restaurant. The ambitious range includes organic cocktails made from in-house spirits, coffee and cake, daytime snacks and Smørrebrød, in the evening, regional Danish and Nordic dishes. A shop offers products from the distillery and also a selection from the Ørbæk brewery and from Mols Organic.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Organic Gin Distilled DEW 87°, Organic Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength, Ardor Isle of Fionia (World Spirits Award 2018 & Spirit of the Year 2018), gold for Organic Gin MIST 114°, Organic Gin Distilled Frost 92°, Organic Single Malt Whisky Ardor Isle of Fionia, and silver for Organic Rum Hurancán.

Roust Hungary: Affordable luxury on the spirits market

Roust was founded in 1992 by the Russian businessman Roustam Tariko and quickly developed into a leading business group in the sale of premium spirits brands. One of the world’s leading vodka producers, the company is present in more than 80 countries. Roust owns production plants and distribution centres in Hungary, Russia and Italy. The comprehensive portfolio includes the flagship vodka brands of Russian Standard, Green Mark, Parliament and Zhuravli.

Thanks to its extensive knowledge in sales and marketing and its commitment to responsible alcohol consumption, Roust Hungary has become the leading supplier on the domestic spirits market. The largest premium spirits company in Hungary also sells the Royal, Zubrówka, Russian Standard, Gancia, Grants, Jägermeister and Metaxa brands.

For years, Royal Vodka has maintained its position as the most popular and well-known vodka brand in Hungary, and also remains market leader in terms of volume and turnover. Royal Vodka is produced using natural ingredients, from the grain to the well water, which contributes to its mild taste.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Royal Original Vodka, and bronze for Royal Raspberry Liqueur.