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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.

Stuttgart Distillers: A declaration of love to their home town

GINSTR – Stuttgart Dry Gin is a declaration of love to Stuttgart: with only 711 (the local dialling code!) bottles per filling, the Stuttgart airport code in the brand name, and the name of the barrels – the first one had the simple name of Killesberg. The ingredients also come from the region: citrus fruits from local greenhouses meet juniper berries from their vineyards in the Remstal Valley. The carefully filtered Lake Constance water is mixed with original Cannstatt mineral water. All 46 handpicked botanicals that cannot be grown in Stuttgart and its surroundings come from regional traders, mostly from the Stuttgart Market Hall: fresh citrus aromas, the finest juniper, a touch of rosemary, cardamom and coriander for the necessary spiciness; liquorice, kaffir lime leaves, orange blossom, hibiscus blossom and pomegranate seeds provide the perfect complementary note. GINSTR is produced and bottled by the ‘makers’ themselves – so they have total control throughout the process.

Markus Escher – a winegrower’s son, master distiller and herb guru – adds his high demands for quality and handwork. GINSTR is full of his expertise, his passion and his heart and soul. Alexander Franke – born on the Killesberg, a presenter and spirits collector – is known by most people in Stuttgart as ‘Sandy’. At 15 he was Germany’s youngest radio presenter and, since then, radio and TV would be unthinkable without him. It was by coincidence that he met Markus at an interview, and then a dream came true: together they created the perfect gin!

GINSTR – Stuttgart Dry Gin was awarded gold at the World Spirits Award.

Senft quality brandies – Experience, experimentation and success

In the picturesque Salemertal Valley in Southern Baden-Württemberg, just a few kilometres from Lake Constance, lies the Senft family’s farm. On the sunny side of the lake they have the ideal conditions for fruit-growing, as well as for the production of brandies, liqueurs, whisky and more. In their own orchards grow old apple varieties such as Cox-Orange and Elstar, small Williams pears, bright yellow Mirabelle plums and juicy peaches. Huge sour cherry trees and ancient damson trees also yield generous harvests, not to mention the fragrance of aromatic raspberries in late summer – the excellent products from the Senft farm speak for themselves.

As soon as the first fruit is ripe, the harvest begins, in which the tree-ripened fruit is harvested in three stages. Only hand-picked, fully ripened fruit is mashed. In order to retain the fine flavours of the fruit, the fresh mash is distilled immediately. After distillation, the distillates mature in stainless steel tanks, some also in barrique barrels, where the wood gives whisky, vodka and brandy their characteristic colour, aromatic richness and mild flavour.

The Senft family has been linked to fruit-growing and distillation for generations. They excel in their traditional knowledge, modern technology, their courage to experiment and their trust in the quality of the spirits and liqueurs. The business was founded in 1988. Herbert Senft also worked as a cellar master (for ‘Markgraf von Baden’ and ‘Winzerverein Hagnau’) from 1972 to 2010. The selection brandies with fruit extract have been on sale since 2002. The next year, new storage rooms were established in Salem-Rickenbach, and the licence as a bonded distillery was added in 2007. In 2012, the first Lake Constance (‘Bodensee’ in German) whisky expanded the wide range further still, and a vodka followed in 2013. It will be interesting to see what comes next at the Senft farm in the Salemertal Valley.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Senft Bodensee Whisky and Senft Bodensee Williams Selektion, and bronze for Williams.