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Nolet Distillery: Traditional Dutch company

In the heart of Schiedam you will find one of the oldest family businesses in the Netherlands, founded in 1691 and still being run by its twelfth generation today. Genever is traditionally produced in the ‘spirit capital’. This ‘malty gin ancestor’ was originally produced as a medicine as long ago as the 16th century. To refine the barley spirit, the apothecaries used large amounts of juniper. While gin is usually made with a mixture of botanicals, genever is based on grain (malt barley, rye and corn) with juniper. The company’s classic is Ketel 1 Original, a fresh, smooth genever, popular as a ‘KopStoot’ with a glass of beer, and also in cocktails. Ketel 1 Rum Cask Finish is characterised by maturation in oak casks, complemented by the spicy notes of aniseed, juniper and vanilla.

The family archives contain fascinating information about many products. Hundreds of old letters bear witness to the company’s shipments to customers all over the world, and a stash of old postcards and documents are records of the family’s travels. Inspired by this theme and based on a recipe from one of those postcards, the limited edition blend was created as the launch product of a ‘Signature Blend World Collection’. Unlike the usual whisky cask variants, the rum cask was chosen. The decision was made to partner with the world-renowned Amsterdam-based company E & A Scheer, which has specialised in sourcing and blending rum for over three centuries. It will be interesting to see how the Rum Cask Finish variant in the Ketel 1 portfolio appeals not only to genever fans but also to lovers of rum, whisky and other spirits.

Gold at the World Spirits Award was awarded to Ketel 1 Signature Blend Rum Cask Finish.

Southern Champion Distillery – Visionary, creative, unusual

The founding of the company in 2010 was unconventional: it was the result of a Master’s final project – and today BuzzBallz is one of the leading ready-to-drink beverages in the USA. Once an alcoholic drink industry outsider, they now use the same, unconventional concept to put a new line of spirits on the market. Southern Champion wants to lead in the sectors of bottling, production and marketing of spirits.

The enthusiastic family team focuses on creating a sense of family and promoting their vision at the company’s offices. This is evident in creative details, such as the colourful walls or slanting windows. The offices are air-conditioned, and every day a full-time chef prepares lunch for everyone, there are massage days – and success is celebrated together. In short: the company has personality, and this can be seen in the brands, the buildings, and also in the employees.

In brand policy, high quality is paramount, and special attention is paid to the unusual style of the bottles and labels – and the products have a reasonable, fair price. The brands, which are tasteful in every respect, have a story to tell: of lifechanging people and places, and invite you to take a journey to them, to share the vision.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for XIII Kings Vodka, Pelican Harbor Light Rum, Pelican Harbor Dark Rum, Crooked Fox Blended Bourbon Whiskey, and silver for Andrew John's Gin.

Rhumerie de Chamarel - Rhumerie de Chamarel – A newcomer with vision

This high-quality rum from the island of Mauritius is produced in line with ecological guidelines. The products are distributed in Austria by the company Wind GmbH, based in Traiskirchen (www.wind-plast.at).

The road leads through extensive pineapple plantations and fields of sugar cane up to the distillery at an altitude of 300 m in the South-West of the island. Designed by a renowned architect, the building is elegant and authentic and a fine example of modern construction with its natural materials such as wood, stone and water. The comprehensive concept also incorporates the L’Alchimiste restaurant where up to 80 guests can savour the sophisticated regional cuisine. At the “Sugar Cane Spirit” boutique, various types of rum are on offer (White Rum, Le Coeur de Chauffe (fine brandy), Rum Paille (stored in wooden casks), Rum Arrange (flavoured with fruits and spices) as well as an exclusive clothing range, hand-made products and a small jewellery collection.

The location and climate of the fertile valley promote the growth and quality of the sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested by hand in the early hours of the morning and processed at the mill within four hours. The fields are not normally burnt, as is usually the case, to make harvesting easier. Even when distilling at the highest modern levels of technology, nothing is wasted: the bagasse – the fibrous remnants of the sugar production process – is burnt to obtain energy. The chimney contains the very latest smoke filters and the ash is used to fertilise the fields.

The company yet again impressed at the World-Spirits Award, with one gold and four silvers.