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Mack Brands: Finvara – Irish Whiskey

Finvara is produced by master distiller David F. Hynes and his team at the Great Northern Distillery (GND) in Dundalk. The town has access to the purest water from the nearby Cooley Mountains, which is why brewing and distilling has been carried out in the region since the late 17th century. Dundalk’s large municipal distillery was in operation between 1708 and 1926. Two historic buildings still exist and are now home to the County Museum and Dundalk Library.

Only Irish malted and unmalted barley is used for the Finvara brand whiskey. The mash is traditionally distilled three times in classic copper pot stills and matured in different types of cask, including American white oak bourbon casks and Spanish sherry casks. The name Finvara goes back to the legendary king of an enchanted kingdom. As a master of transformation, he could take on any form he wanted. His image on the label leads you off on a mystical journey into bygone times and mysterious worlds.

Conte Camillo offers ready-to-drink Negroni – perfect for the fast pace of life in the city. Its origin lies in the northern Italian Alps, where master distiller Alessandro Francoli is responsible for the harmonious combination of gin, vermouth and bitters in a small mountain distillery in the Aosta Valley. Each component is made separately with regional ingredients. The gin is based on mineral-rich water from the Acqueverdi waterfall, combined with juniper from 2,400 metres above sea level, gentian, wild mallow and mountain roses. Herbs such as the small-flowered mountain mint and the aromatic mountain thyme are used for the vermouth. In Bitter Artigianale, wormwood, gentian and elderflower join other aromas such as orange peel and liquorice root.

DiGusti: Quality products from Italy to the Netherlands

Foods and beverages from Italy are the focus at DiGusti, founded in 2010 by Ingmar Berkhout. The driving force from the beginning was his great passion for food. He began with 20 products and today DiGusti is one of the largest Italian products wholesalers in the Netherlands, with more than 200 products from small manufacturers in Italy.

The company helps small farmers to sell products from their home country abroad. Quality and purity are very important when it comes to determining the range of products. The online shop is a real A to Z of Italian delicacies – from antipasti and balsamic vinegar to olive oil and truffles to ‘zoete lekkernijen’ for those with a sweet tooth. They all have a tale to tell about how Italian food has traditionally been enjoyed.

The recipes for the spirits are developed by DiGusti along with the producers. For the Limoncello, Feliciano exclusively processes big lemons in a little town on the Sorrento coast, while the Limoncioccolat by Marco is produced in a village in the mountains on the Amalfi coast.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Limoncioccolat, Limoncello and Mandarinello.

Rhumerie de Chamarel - Rhumerie de Chamarel – A newcomer with vision

This high-quality rum from the island of Mauritius is produced in line with ecological guidelines. The products are distributed in Austria by the company Wind GmbH, based in Traiskirchen (www.wind-plast.at).

The road leads through extensive pineapple plantations and fields of sugar cane up to the distillery at an altitude of 300 m in the South-West of the island. Designed by a renowned architect, the building is elegant and authentic and a fine example of modern construction with its natural materials such as wood, stone and water. The comprehensive concept also incorporates the L’Alchimiste restaurant where up to 80 guests can savour the sophisticated regional cuisine. At the “Sugar Cane Spirit” boutique, various types of rum are on offer (White Rum, Le Coeur de Chauffe (fine brandy), Rum Paille (stored in wooden casks), Rum Arrange (flavoured with fruits and spices) as well as an exclusive clothing range, hand-made products and a small jewellery collection.

The location and climate of the fertile valley promote the growth and quality of the sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested by hand in the early hours of the morning and processed at the mill within four hours. The fields are not normally burnt, as is usually the case, to make harvesting easier. Even when distilling at the highest modern levels of technology, nothing is wasted: the bagasse – the fibrous remnants of the sugar production process – is burnt to obtain energy. The chimney contains the very latest smoke filters and the ash is used to fertilise the fields.

The company yet again impressed at the World-Spirits Award, with one gold and four silvers.

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.