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LA SU Gin: Exotic holiday feeling in a glass

Alexander Kayser and Christopher Schuh are true gin lovers and founders of the brand LA SU Gin – a registered brand of Expo Outline Messebau und Event GmbH in Altenstadt, with Alexander Kayser as the managing partner.

After exploring many trains of thought, it was clear to both of them that it had to be exotic. LA SU Gin is a premium handcrafted gin with a hint of fruity mango. Distilled in small batches, traditionally and without additives, it is made in one of the oldest distilleries in Europe. The mango gives it a special freshness and balances the tart notes of the spices perfectly. Next to the mango, LA SU evokes a sense of travel. Enjoy a holiday feeling and discover new taste sensations. The elaborate bottle design reflects a love of detail and certainly leaves an impression.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was achieved by LA SU *MGO* Natural Mango.

Edward Snell – Whisky from South Africa

Edward Snell founded a trading company in Durban in 1848, from which the oldest spirit company in South Africa developed over 160 years. Following an eventful history, the company is now once again in the hands of the family. Besides their own brands they also sell numerous local and international drink brands, mostly in various markets in Africa and the Middle East.

The wide range of products includes whisky, brandy, vodka, rum, gin, tequila and cognac. One outstanding label is Firstwatch Whisky with its new look, a striking, square bottle design. Consumer demand for a whisky with an American taste profile has been perfected over time and is presented today as a balanced blend of the finest imported rye and grain. Whether pure, on the rocks or mixed – its diversity makes it popular with many different target groups and successful in one of the largest spirit segments in South Africa.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Firstwatch Whisky.

Organic Juniper: Purism for true gin lovers

Sometimes it seems as though many distillers have forgotten what gin is all about. Why else would we have all these complicated aromas that don’t just sing, but shout? This is the view at Juni Gin Lab in Nottingham, the place to be for dedicated gin fans – an exclusive location with a carefully stocked bar. As well as their own Juni gins, there are innovative cocktails, wines, beers, ciders and alcohol-free drinks to choose from.

The ‘lab’ can tell you about the history of gin, about Juni 93 and its home in Serbia, as well as offering an insight into distillation techniques, mixing and harmonising botanicals for home recipes that can be produced in traditional copper stills. Of course, there are also tastings and even a Cocktail Master Class.

With Juni 93, Alyasir Mendly, Sales Manager at Organic Juniper, together with the Master Distiller, Tom Masters, has put an original London Dry made entirely with natural ingredients on the market. Made with hand-selected, Serbian organic juniper berries from their own land in the highlands of Pest at nearly 5,000 feet above sea level. And, instead of transporting the berries all the way to England, they have settled in Serbia to meet the locals and to get involved in all the work, from picking to sorting to distilling.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Juni 93 London Dry Gin and Juni 93 Cask-Aged Gin.

Feldfrucht Agrar: Controlled quality from an old entailed estate

Werner, Christine, Franz and Eva Lehner live and work on an old entailed estate. They know from documents that both the building and the family history go back to 1620. Presumably it has been in existence for much longer, although there is no written record. The thinking in terms of generations and the demand for sustainability also determine the type of land usage, which is environmentally friendly, suited to the location and in harmony with nature. Tradition, a close bond with the earth, as well as the courage to innovate have made the vegetable farm a strong partner for gastronomy and food retailing. The enterprise is a member of the “Wasserbauern” association, in order to set targeted measures for preserving water quality.

Production is according to the EUREP-GAP programme. On the one hand it is more costly, on the other it guarantees the best and most reliable food quality. This should be an incentive for the consumer to buy Austrian products. The products flourish on the deep, fruitful earth at the heart of Leonding in Upper Austria. The main products are sweetcorn (since 1986) and pumpkin (since 1999). In addition, there is a wholesale business with all kinds of vegetables, developed from over 50 years of successful cultivation. A trademark of the enterprise has always been specialities and novelties first in vegetable cultivation and later also in trade. The customers include gastronomy, homes and hospitals, where the controlled quality is valued.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Roots Sweet Potato Vodka.