[bookmark]    [print]    [contact]

World-Spirits Award & Festival 2007 at the GAST trade fair in Klagenfurt: 
Golden times for the best spirits and distillates  

[Hit-lists]  [Distillery-Portaits with products]

Die "Distillery of the Year & World-Spirits Award Gewinner 2007": 
Gemeinderat Dr. Dieter Jandl,
Distillery of the Year Silver, Garagenbrennerei Manfred Wöhrer,
Distillery of the Year Bronze, Brennerei Lagler, 
Distillery of the Year Gold & WS Award 2007, Feindestillerie Christoph Kössler,
LH.Stv. Gerhard Dörfler,
Barbara Ortner, World-Spirits,
Wolfram Ortner, World-Spirits Veranstalter.
Bildtext mittleres Bild ( von links nach rechts)

Wolfram Ortner organised a successful third round of the prize award ceremony and exhibition at the GAST trade fair in Klagenurt – from March 11^th to 14^th, 2007 – which lived up to the slogan “Simply the Best in Spirits”. The Fair’s Managing Director, Ing. Erich Hallegger, is thrilled about the partnership that brings synergies for the organisers with regard to both marketing and event-organisation; and fair visitors can take advantage of the extensive sampling of appealing spirits from all over the world! The star of the “World-Spirits 2007” is – just like last year – distiller Christoph Kössler from Stanz in Tyrol.

45 participants from 11 nations took part in the “World-Spirits Award 2007” festival; their products ranged from cognac and tequila to gin and rum, from spirits distilled from fruits to 100% distillates. The results of the ranking are based on the WOB-100 point grading system that is tailored to spirits. Objective assessment is ensured by an international jury of tasters with many years of experience. The World-Spirits Award is given to the producer of the product that achieves the most points in its group (i.e. pomes). Medals ranging from double-gold to bronze are awarded to the winners. In the classification of distilleries, the distilleries are ranked on the basis of their products (World-Class Distillery, Master-Class Distillery, First-Class Distillery and Recommended Distillery), and the distilleries winning the most points are awarded the title “World-Spirits Distillery of the Year” in gold, silver and bronze. The classification of distilleries is an international assessment of distillers, the medals honour their work and are a distinction for flawless products.

The big winner of 2007 is, again, Tyrolean master distiller Christoph Kössler who won the “World-Spirits Award” in gold for the “Distillery of the Year” in the fruit distillates category; followed by the Upper Austrian “home” distiller Manfred Wöhrer (DOY silver) and Kurt Lagler from Burgenland (DOY bronze)

Distillery classification

34 distilleries have been classified in various categories (reaching from fruit distillates and grain spirits to rum); fourteen of those were awarded the “World-Class Distillery” distinction, eleven received the “Master-Class Distillery” and eight the “First-Class Distillery” distinction; one distiller won the title “Recommended Distillery”.

The classification is not only a means for distillers to assess their current position on an international scale, but it also entails competitive advantages in connection with dedicated marketing measures and the support offered by “World Spirits”. 

World-Class Distilleries: Vittorio Capovilla IT (OBB), Vittorio Capovilla IT (GRA), Jahrgangsbrennerei Doll DE (OBB), Fohlenhof Gartner IT (OBB), Hofbrennerei Oberkorb Franzl DE (OBB), Gebhard Hämmerle AT (OBB), Grenada Distillers GD (RUM), Feindestillerie Kössler AT (OBB), Brennerei Lagler AT (OBB), Brennerei Leitner AT (OBB), Raunikar Edelbrände AT (OBS), Brennerei Vallendar DE (OBS), Destillerie Weutz AT (OBB), Garagenbrennerei Wöhrer AT (OBB)

Master-Class Distilleries: Destillerie Bauer AT (BILI), Michelehof Büchele AT (OBB), Arnold Dettling CH (OBB), Edelbrennerei Dirker DE (BILI), Destillerie Freihof AT (OBS), Hauser Traditionsmarken AT (OBS), Destillerie Hochstrasser AT (OBB), Marder Edelbrände DE (OBB), Summer Edelbrände AT (OBB), Tikev SI (BILI), Brennerei Vallendar DE (OBB)

First-Class Distilleries: Augustus Rex DE (OBB), Edelbrennerei Dirker DE (OBB), Destillerie Bauer AT (OBS), Edeldestillerie Oberhofer AT (OBB), Okanagan Spirits CA (OBB),  Kornbrennerei Sasse DE (KOR), Brennerei Schosser AT (OBB), Zwack Unicum HU (OBB)

Recommended Distillery: Destillerie Bauer AT (OBB)

* Key categories: BILI=bitter & liqueurs, GRA=grappa, KOR=grain spirits, OBB=100% distillates, OBS=fruit spirits, RUM=rum.

** Key nations: AT=Austria, AU=Australia, CA=Canada, CH=Switzerland, DE=Germany, GB=Great Britain, GD=Grenada, HU=Hungary, IT=Italy, PT=Portugal, SI=Slovenia.

Medals & variety winners

45 participants from 11 nations competed for the “World Spirits Award” 2007, with the presented products ranging from coffee and cigar brandies to gin, rum, fruit spirits and 100% distillates. The results are based on the WOB 100-points grading system tailored to spirits; objective assessment is ensured by an international taster jury with many years of experience.

Distinctions are the reflection of the distillers’ work and an appreciation of perfect products. Following the slogan “Simply the best in Spirits”, only the best products are entered in the competition and receive rave reviews from the strict jury.

266 medals were awarded - Christoph Kössler from Tyrol with double gold formed a league of his own; an additional 151 gold, 106 silver and 8 bronze medals decorate the products of the participating distilleries.

The gold medallists in the group and type ranking

Alt Wiener Schnapsmuseum (Absinth, Boonekamp Kräuterbitter,  Caramellikör),

Bauer (Jagertee, Blauer Stroganoff Wodka-Mix, Wodka Stroganoff),

Capovilla (Grappa Moscato Giallo, Grappa di Amarone, Honigbirne),

Cristinalda (Honey Liqueur),

Dettling (Weichsel)

Dirker (Orangengeist),

Doll (Marc vom Muskateller),

Dri (Grappa Ramandolo),

Freie Weingärtner (Cigar Reserve XA, Gelögerbrand Reserve, Veltlinerbrand Reserve),

Freihof (Mirtillo Heidelbeerlikör),

Gartner (Apfel Jonagold, Bergzwetschke Holz),

Grenada Distillers (Light Rum, Old Grog Rum, Spicy Rum),

Hauser (Marillenschnaps, Williamsbirnenschnaps),

Hämmerle (Wildkirsche),

Hochstrasser (Zwetschkenbrand Holzfass – Kaffeedestillat),

Kössler (Gerste Eiche – Zigarrendestillat, Weizenbierbrand),

Lagler (Himbeere),

Leitner (Williams, Vogelbeere),

Marder (Steinpilzgeist),

Okanagan Spirits (Old Italian Prune, Trester Pinot Noir),

Raunikar (Enzian-Spirituose, Vogelbeerschnaps),

Sasse (Münsterländer Lagerkorn Export),

Tikev (Kürbis Kräuterlikör),

Trapas (Zibibbo di Pantelleria),

Vallendar (Bananenbrand, Wacholdergeist),

Wöhrer (Traubenkirsche, Marillenbrand),

Zwack (Brombeere, Schwarzer Holunder).

Extraordinary & Alternative

“World Spirits” sees itself as a trendsetter and motivates distillers in the fruit spirits category to produce spirits that can be served as the perfect accompaniment to coffee and cigars. The best coffee brandy is “Zwetschke Holz” by Feindestillerie Hochstrasser and the best cigar brandy “Barley Barrique” by Christoph Kössler.

It seems to be a trend of the times to deal with “grain & wood”. From Lagler and Christoph Kössler to Weutz, the specialist, role models are taken from the Scottish and Irish islands.

Rum and bourbon barrels are used for storing the exquisite distillates, and it does not make any difference whether these barrels are filled with a rustic grain or a fine cherry spirit.

All the award-winning distillers enjoyed the World-Spirits Festival from March 11^th to 14^th, 2007 – a real “who’s who” gathering of the distiller scene. The award-winning products as well as other specialities from the various distilleries were on offer for tasting. 20,000 interested visitors were able to choose from a wide variety of spirits that were brought to Klagenfurt, from all over the world, by the Award participants.   

The World-Spirits Guide with all the results of the Awards 2007, tips and everything you ever wanted to know about spirits, plus Armagnac Special will be published in September 2007, and will be available in its German version in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Southern Tyrol for a price of EUR 9.90. The on-line guide with more than 13,000 addresses – with a focus on distilleries, gastronomy, trade and equipment – can be booked for an annual subscription of EUR 22.-: www.world-spirits-guide.com

Throughout the year, Wolfram Ortner organises taster training courses in the Master Class in the framework of the World-Spirits Academy. The “World-Spirits 2008” with Award & Festival will again be held at the GAST fair in Klagenfurt, presumably again in March. For information and registration please see www.world-spirits.com 

Information on “World Spirits 2007”:
World-Spirits . Wolfram Ortner . A-9546 Bad Kleinkirchheim . Untertscherner Weg 3
Phone: 0043-4240-760 . Fax: 0043-4240-760-50 . www.world-spirits.com
E-mail: office@world-spirits.com

Information on GAST KLAGENFURT at “Kärntner Messen”, phone: 0043-463-56800-0* or on the web at www.kaerntnermessen.at 

Press texts and images for download in the World Spirits Press Center:
In the Press Center, journalists will find information on the participants and all results (rating and description) as well as hit lists and country statistics of the 2007 Award.