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Prevelon: Premium vodka by order of the Kremlin

Kremlin Premium Vodka was created as the official drink for all diplomatic receptions and banquets at the Kremlin and was intended as the hallmark of high-ranking events. The decision in favour of the most traditional Russian drink was unanimous. It was only produced on special order and in limited amounts. The first large batch of this ‘protocol’ vodka was ordered in February 1945 for the Yalta Conference. Kremlin Award Grand Premium came on the market in 2011 and is exported to 38 countries, and in many of them it holds the top position in the ultra-premium vodka category. Since 2016, the product range has included Kremlin Award Classic, which enjoys great popularity amongst all partners.

Two products have been added to the product range. Kremlin Award Organic is based on alcohol that is produced from the highest quality organic wheat, and on natural drinking water. The vodka passes through a multi-stage purification through pure birchwood charcoal. The alcohol for Kremlin Award Vintage is made from organic grains from the same harvest. The wheat grains are stored in a grain silo until they reach their physiological maturity in order to get a high-quality base product. The ‘luxury alcohol’ is then mixed with natural drinking water and, after purification, is granted a resting period. Production is limited to the year stated on the label.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Kremlin Award Organic and Kremlin Award Vintage.

Altvater Gessler – Specialities with great tradition

At the end of the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century, ‘Altvater Gessler’ and ‘J.A. Baczewski’ were well-known brand names, associated with a large variety of high quality alcoholic drinks.

The roots of the company date way back to the 18th century, and the branch, which was founded in Silesia in 1873, gained great importance with the slogan ‘3 words: Altvater – Gessler – Jägerndorf’. It became a purveyor to the court of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor and was awarded gold medals at the world exhibitions in 1888 in Melbourne and St. Petersburg, in 1889 in Barcelona and Brussels, in 1900 in Paris, and in 1904 in Vienna. After the collapse of the Empire, individual businesses were founded in the successor states and licences were issued to manufacturers of Gessler products. After the Second World War, most of the businesses in Eastern Europe were nationalised. Only Vienna remained in the possession of the Gessler family and was run for 60 years by Eduard Gessler. Exports were expanded to Australia, Africa and America. In 1980, his son Elek re-established the company under the name ‘Altvater Gessler – J.A. Baczewski GmbH’: which is still a famous name for spirit specialities following old traditions today.

Classified as a First Class Distillery in 2019, there was double gold for J.A. Baczewski Piolunowka, gold for J.A. Baczewski Orzechowka, Gin Monopolowa, Vodka Monopolowa, J.A. Baczewski Ovovit, J.A. Baczewski Suweren and J.A. Baczewski Whisky, silver for J.A. Baczewski Pomeranczowka and J.A. Baczewski Jezynowka, and bronze for J.A. Baczewski Morelowka and J.A. Baczewski Wisniowka.

Gyulai Pálinka – A manufactory on historic soil

The first distillery was founded in 1731 in the city of Gyula: Baron Johannes Georg Harruckern of Upper Austria received the area as a gift from the Kaiser following his military career. The Baron brought German settlers to the area and promoted agriculture, trade and industry. Based on this long-standing tradition and supported by the latest technologies, the Gyulaer Palinka Manufaktúra has been developing here since 2008: the first series of distillates bears the name of Baron Harruckern and the design skilfully combines the past and future.

The master distillers aim to produce top quality in manageable quantities. The raw materials are top-quality fruits which are selected and washed by hand, ranging from traditional varieties to woodland and wild fruits. The importance of fruit brandy in the region is emphasised by the large spring festival with its Hungarian state-wide Pálinka competition.

The town of Gyula in the country of Békés at the gateway to Transylvania has plenty on offer for tourists, including its historical atmosphere with its brick castle and one of the most beautiful thermal baths in the region. Around a million visitors come to these healing springs each year and some of them also sample the soothing effects of a genuine Pálinka!

The products also impressed at the World-Spirits Award: gold and the title of “Best in Category” for the blackberry, gold for the quince and seven silver medals for various fruit brandies. This resulted in a ranking of 3rd place overall in the fruit brandy category as a “Distillery of the Year” (bronze) and classification as a “World-Class Distillery”.