World Spirits Award 2022 I The WSA presentation of the “crown jewels”: 13 x Awards, 13 x Spirits of the Year and 6 x Distilleries of the Year
World Spirits Award 2022:
The WSA presentation of the “crown jewels”: 13 x Awards, 13 x Spirits of the Year and 6 x Distilleries of the Year
The “World Spirits Award” is considered by many spirits enthusiasts and producers as the unofficial world championship within the sector. “We have been working with the utmost care towards this position in the market for over two decades with constant fine tuning of quality and innovations.”
The Award Celebration took place in Bad Kleinkirchheim in Austria on 18th and 19th March, after it had to be cancelled in the two previous years due to COVID. On 18th March a distillery tour through Carinthia (Pfau, Jesche and WOB) was held, and on 19th March the award ceremony took place in Nockln, the Brunnach mountain station of the Bad Kleinkirchheim cable cars.
Despite the difficult COVID times, the WSA 2022 can once again boast a “full house”, which the mastermind Wolfram Ortner and his team are very proud of and grateful for. One of the best qualified juries in the world has tasted 450 samples from 120 distilleries this year and rigorously but fairly evaluated them according to WSA definitions with their high level of expertise. The best of the best were distinguished with the coveted “World Spirits Awards”.
The quality of the tastings, the challenging training of the jury, and the separate communication channels (Guide, Spirits Finder Apps with Channel on world-spirits.com and the TV format “Inside World Spirits”) have been praised by participants. New features include the clips of “Inside World Spirits” – as well as the short version, the “Inside World Spirits Shots”.
The World Spirits Award has a very special position amongst all international competitions with its classification of distilleries. As well as receiving medals, establishments are classified in the same way as is customary with the world’s best wines in Bordeaux, for example. The distinctions range from “World Class” to “First Class”, with the top spot being “Distillery of the Year”.
The WSA superstars of 2022
Distillery Krauss: Delicacies from Koralpe
At the foot of Koralpe in St. Martin im Sulmtal lies Distillery Krauss. What started in 2007 in a small garage in Schwanberg developed into an international spirits producer from 2018 at the new location, now with five employees. It has made a name for itself globally especially for gin, marking Austria on the gin world map. In addition, other top products such as rum, whisky, apple brandy and aniseed spirit have been awarded worldwide, rounding the product range off perfectly.
Amongst everything that is undertaken in the successful enterprise, some ‘cornerstones’ have emerged over the years as the most important values: a wide product range, concentration on the essentials, enjoyable moments, expertise and quality. For the fine brandies, there is an emphasis on single barrel filling at barrel strength. Despite the size of the company, individual gin productions are nevertheless still made according to customer wishes. The pot still at the old location is available for this, which is otherwise used for testing purposes and new developments – such as the first Austrian BIO Hard Seltzer.
The World Class Distillery 2022 OBB (Distillery of the Year – Gold & World Spirits Award 2022), World Class Distillery 2022 GIWO (Distillery of the Year – Gold & World Spirits Award 2022) and First Class Distillery 2022 BILI collected, alongside double gold for Saffron infused Dry Gin (Spirit of the Year 2022) and Zwetschkenbrand (damson brandy) (World Spirits Award 2022 & Spirit of the Year 2022), a further nine gold medals and four times silver.
Distillery Krauss GmbH – Austria
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Gold & World Spirits Award) 100% Distillates
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Gold & World Spirits Award) Gin & Vodka
Zwetschkenbrand (SoY & Award 2022)
Saffron infused Dry Gin (SoY 2022)
Fruchtbrennerei Franz Tinnauer – Austria
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Silver) 100% Distillates
Zwetschken Zigarrenbrand Reserve (SoY & Award 2022)
Brennerei Bernhard Leitner – Austria
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Bronze) 100% Distillates
Brombeere (Award 2022)
Destillerie Hochstrasser – Austria
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Gold & World Spirits Award) Bitters & Liqueurs
Kürbiskerncocktail (SoY & Award 2022)
Grenada Distillers LTD – Grenada
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Gold & World Spirits Award) Rum
What would the Austrian world of spirits be without Styria? In recent years, it has developed into a heartland of distilling. The top distillers of the region are veritable medal collectors for “world championship” spirits. The absolute superstar is the Krauss family, followed by the fruit distillery Tinnauer and the distillery Hochstrasser.
“Man, I’m proud”, Andreas Hofer (Tyrolean popular hero) would no doubt have enthused: this applies to the small distillery Bernhard Leitner and the producer of the most highly awarded gin, Peter Kronbichler, for the Tirolikum Gin Overproof.
Grenada Distillers now also occupy a firm place in the sun of Caribbean rum producers – they were awarded the gold title, “Distillery of the Year”, and a “World Spirits Award”.
Distillery Schulze Rötering, Semper Idem Underberg and St. Kilian Distillers from Germany are in the major league, having earned the “World Spirits Award” and “Spirits of the Year”.
Feinbrennerei Sasse, Levante Spirits, the Mozart Distillery and the Luding Group for Tchaikovsky Vodka boast the title “Spirit of the Year” with double gold, which will also delight the Russian president.
Herman Jansen
Without Jenever there would without doubt be no gin – even if the modern gin wave threatens to suppress the honourable elder of juniper spirits in quantity and popularity. It is therefore time to call onto the stage those responsible of the DNA for “life’s work and zest for life”. Herman Jansen, the Dutch company from Schiedam, is here as a representative for the cult drink Jenever, to award the merits, efforts and adaptation of the zeitgeist with the World Spirits Award 2022 for their life’s achievements.
Double Gold & Spirits of the Year as well as Awards 2022 for the group winners
The following distilleries received 8 World Spirits Awards for group wins and 13 Spirits of the Year as variety winner – in different categories:
World Spirits Award & Spirits of the Year 2022
Brennerei Schulze Rötering – Münsterländer Edelkorn gereift im Rum Fass
Destillerie Hochstrasser GmbH & CO KG – Kürbiskerncocktail
Distillery Krauss GmbH – Zwetschkenbrand
Fruchtbrennerei Franz Tinnauer – Zwetschken Zigarrenbrand Reserve
Semper Idem Underberg AG – Bio Underberg
St. Kilian Distillers GmbH – Signature Edition EIGHT
Peter Kronbichler e. U. – TIROLIKUM GIN OVERPROOF
World Spirits Award 2022
Brennerei Bernhard Leitner – Brombeere
Spirits of the Year 2022
Distillery Krauss GmbH – Saffron infused Dry Gin
Feinbrennerei Sasse – Lagerkorn GmH – Nju Korn fruchtig, Korn Atlantic Finish
Levante Spirits SRL – Ginepraio Amphora Navy Strength
Luding Group – TCHAIKOVSKY
Mozart Distillerie GmbH – Mozart Chocolate Cream
Distillery Classification
31 distilleries were classified in different categories (from fruit brandy, whisky and grappa to rum). 18 of them can enjoy the award “World Class Distillery”, 8 with “Master Class Distillery” and 4 with “First Class Distillery” and one “Recommended Distillery”.
The classification is not only an international benchmark for distillers but also results in competitive advantages in connection with their own marketing measures supported by “World Spirits”.
Distilleries of the Year 2022
Distillery Krauss GmbH – Austria
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Gold & World Spirits Award) 100% Distillates
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Gold & World Spirits Award) Gin & Vodka
Fruchtbrennerei Franz Tinnauer – Austria
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Silver) 100% Distillates
Brennerei Bernhard Leitner – Austria
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Bronze) 100% Distillates
Destillerie Hochstrasser – Austria
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Gold & World Spirits Award) Bitters & Liqueurs
Grenada Distillers LTD – Grenada
(Distillery of the Year 2022 – Gold & World Spirits Award) Rum
World Class Distilleries 2022
Asbach GmbH – Deutschland – Germany
Brennerei Bernhard Leitner – Austria
Brennerei Ehringhausen GmbH & Co.KG – Germany
2 x Brennerei Hubertus Vallendar GmbH & Co KG (OBB, OBS*) – Germany
2 x Capovilla Azienda Agricola di Capovilla Vittorio (OBB, GRAPPA*) – Italy
2 x Destillerie Hochstrasser GmbH & CO KG (OBB, BILI*) – Austria
2 x Distillery Krauss GmbH (OBB, GIWO*) – Austria
Feinbrennerei Sasse – Lagerkorn GmH – Germany
Fruchtbrennerei Franz Tinnauer – Austria
Grenada Distillers Ltd – Grenada
Kaufmann Spirits – Austria
Hofbrennerei Oberkorb – Germany
Pirker GmbH – Austria
Spezialitäten-Brennerei & Whisky Destillerie Liebl GmbH – Germany
** OBB = 100% Distillates, OBS = Fruit Spirits, BILI = Bitters & Liqueurs, GIWO = Gin & Vodka (Category)
Master Class Distilleries 2022
Bimmerle KG Private Distillery – Germany
Angostura Limited – Trinidad and Tobago
Brennerei Krenn – Austria
Edelkorn-Brennerei Jos. Rosche – Germany
finch® Whiskydestillerie – Germany
Gautier Mückstein & Ellinger GmbH – Austria
Maison Léda – France
Roner AG Brennereien – Italy
First Class Distilleries 2022
Distillery Krauss GmbH – Austria
Eifel-Destillerie P. J. Schütz – Germany
Pirker GmbH – Austria
The Whitley Neill Distillery Ltd. – Great Britain
Recommended Distilleries 2022
Roner AG Brennereien – Italy
Medals & variety winners
120 participants and distilleries from 25 nations (islands) took part in the “World Spirits Award 2022”, submitting 450 spirits for consideration. With the presented products ranging from brandies to gin, rum, fruit spirits and 100% distillates. The results are based on the WOB 100-point evaluation system tailored to spirits; objective assessment is ensured by an international jury of tasters with many years of experience.
Distinctions are the reflection of the distillers’ work and an appreciation of perfect products. Based on the slogan “Simply the Best in Spirits”, only the best products are entered into the competition and receive excellent reviews from the strict jury.
443 medals were awarded – 22 double golds (13 of them Spirits of the Year), 222 golds, 179 silvers and 19 bronze medals. A peripheral detail: 7 products were considered faulty or too inadequate.
The results are based on the WOB 100-point evaluation system, which is specially tailored to the world of spirits. An experienced international jury of tasters ensured an objective assessment.
Double Gold 2022
Bimmerle KG Private Distillery – Sahnelikör Zimtstern
Brennerei Bernhard Leitner – Brombeere, Vogelbeere
Brennerei Schulze Rötering – Münsterländer Edelkorn gereift im Rum Fass
Destillerie Hochstrasser GmbH & CO KG – Kürbiskerncocktail
Distillery Krauss GmbH – Saffron infused Dry Gin, Zwetschkenbrand
Alt Wiener Schnapsmuseum GmbH – F. Fischer 1875 Dulce de Leche
Feinbrennerei Sasse – Lagerkorn GmbH – Nju Korn fruchtig, Korn Atlantic Finish
Fruchtbrennerei Franz Tinnauer – Sauvignon Tresterbrand Reserve, Zwetschken Zigarrenbrand Reserve
Grenada Distillers Ltd – Clark's Court Pure White
Kaufmann Spirits – Elsbeerbrand
Scheible Bräu & Spirituosen GmbH (Kraterfeuer Spirits) – Kraterfeuer
Levante Spirits SRL – Ginepraio Amphora Navy Strength
Luding Group – TCHAIKOVSKY
Mozart Distillerie GmbH – Mozart Chocolate Cream
Pirker GmbH – Schwarze Johannisbeere
Semper Idem Underberg AG – Bio Underberg
St. Kilian Distillers GmbH – Signature Edition EIGHT
Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg GmbH – Bio Wildshuter Hopfen Gin
Peter Kronbichler e. U. – TIROLIKUM GIN OVERPROOF
Facts and Figures 2022 (2021)
31 (28) Classifications
12 (13) World Spirits Awards
4 (5) Distilleries of the Year – Gold
1 (5) Distillery of the Year – Silver
1 (2) Distillery of the Year – Bronze
13 (15) Spirit of the Year
23 (45) Double Gold
222 (249) Gold
179 (121) Silver
19 (16) Bronze
7 (8) Inadequate/Faults
Total 450 (439) products overall
31 (28) Classifications
18 (17) World Class Distilleries
8 (7) Master Class Distilleries
4 (4) First Class Distilleries
1 (0) Recommended Distillery
Total 120 (117) Distilleries
© Wolfram Ortner, World Spirits, www.world-spirits.com
