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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.

Donau Origin: Gins from Bavaria with symbolic power

The young gin manufacturing enterprise in Oberhausen on the Danube defines itself thus: “We have made it our mission to reflect the way of life of our beautiful Bavarian homeland in expressive gins. Regionality, sustainability and the highest quality are just as important as honest, solid manual labour. These values are also reflected in the company logo. The three waves stand for the gins, the four fields for the founders and the shape for a glance into the pot still. The Danube is the source of our origins.”

After preparing for a good two years, at the beginning of 2021 an old machinery hall with an adjoining gravel area was turned into a distillery with a garden, local fruit trees and a meadow with two populations of bees. Everything is produced by hand at a slow pace and with attention to detail. “Pumps and plastic are banned entirely.” During the maceration of the botanicals, they work according to secret recipes, only using organically certified raw ingredients. Distilling is gentle on the aromas in a 200-litre still, then the distillates rest for over three months in a stainless-steel barrel.

The drinking strength is 42 volume percent, “because apart from the perfect ratio of aroma, texture and strength, it is also the answer to the question of life, the universe and all the rest.” Those who would like to find out more should read Douglas Adams’ cult novel ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’. After maturation, the gins are filtered by means of gravity and given a last quality check before they are filled and sealed in bottles with a high-quality design.

At the World Spirits Award, silver was awarded to MORGENtau, and bronze to SOMMERwind and FICHTENgold.