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Klippenziege: New era in the world of gin

In December 2015, four friends captured the ‘spirit’ of an idea: they were thinking about gin. Nearly a year later a small batch was bottled by hand. The individuality of a gin lies in the combination of the botanicals, in this case it is the exotic selection: mate tea, goji berries, physalis and a hint of rose. The Klippenziege is a New Western Dry Gin, in which juniper plays the main role amongst the other botanicals.

It is produced in the Habbel Distillery, which guarantees excellent quality thanks to its experience – it was established in 1878 and is now in the family’s fourth generation. The former Korn distillery in Sprockhövel with adjoining farmland is now the largest fruit distillery in the Ruhr region, as a traditional manufacturer it stands out with its attention to detail. The entire manufacturing process at Klippenziege can also be observed on-site.

The bottle and the label are also special. Designer Levent Aydin drew it carefully by hand, and then digitalised it before perfecting it. First it is printed, then coated, then stamped and embossed. The elegant result stands for friendship, solidarity and love. Working together in a friendly and familiar atmosphere connects people with a passion for life who share one important belief: that the product should encourage people to slow down, allowing for mindful enjoyment.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Mate Dry Gin.

Wyborowa – The vodka of a master

“The Wyborowa product portfolio has its roots in decades of tradition and extensive know-how,” says Tadeusz Rusek, Senior Brand Manager at Wyborowa Pernod Ricard. The Pernod Ricard Group has operated in Poland since the mid-1990s and, in 2001, took on the Wyborowa brand. The company specialises in the dynamic development of international brands in the premium sector and strengthening competitiveness in the home vodka sector in Poland. “We decided to show consumers what the traditional means of production are, which is why we introduced our Master Distiller, Lukasz Karmowski. The name of the vodka, Wyborowa od Mistrza, refers to his creation, and the picture on the label is an expression of our recognition and respect for him,” Rusek adds.

The Master Distiller says: “I am very grateful to my father for showing me how to carry on the family tradition. I believe that distillation was my calling, and I am so happy that the cooperation with Wyborowa Pernod Ricard means that this special vodka will soon be available all across the country. I value all the initiatives that contribute to maintaining the culture of traditional distillation and that focus on the people themselves who play a key role in this.” This vodka is only produced in one distillery using locally grown rye. The specially designed, frosted glass bottle and the label with the historical sketch of the distillery and the picture of the master distiller underline the uniqueness of the content.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Wyborowa od Mistrza.

Corralejo – Top tequila from blue agave

Tequilera Corralejo, also known as Hacienda Corralejo, was founded in 1775 by Pedro Sánchez de Tagle and was one of the first commercially producing distilleries for tequila in Mexico. The site is open to the public and today also houses the Museo del Vino y la Botella, a wine and bottle museum. The historic significance of the site highlights the fact that the ‘Father of Mexican independence’ was born here 220 years ago – the priest, scholar and revolutionary Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The premium products of the company are also typically Mexican and are exported to more than 77 countries across the world, in particular Asia, Europe, America and the Caribbean: Tequila Blanco, Reposado and Añejo and the special Triple Destilado and Gran Corralejo.

The basis for the tequila is blue agave (Weber Blue Agave) with its lengthy growing cycle of 8 years. It is produced in specific controlled areas and harvested by hand once fully ripe. The hearts of the agave (piña) weigh approx. 80 to 100 pounds. After checking the quality and sugar content, they are sliced and slowly cooked under steam in the stone oven for 30 hours. The agave juice is then extracted as part of a shredding process and fermented with yeast developed especially for the company. Distillation takes place in a copper vessel before the distillate is stored in French oak casks and bottled in traditional bottles with a special colour code for each product such as the Blanco in white.

The Corralejo Tequila Blanco and Los Arango Tequila Blanco were awarded gold at the World Spirits Award.