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Porta – Vodka from Argentina

The Italian Porta family left their homeland of Lombardy in 1882 and migrated to Argentina, where they set up a distillery. The company has been under the direction of its fourth generation of managers since 1981 and has extended its fields of business in various directions since then. It has also moved its location to the industrial site of Cordoba where modern distilling and vinegar making are now possible within this new setting – the country is in fact the market leader in the country for Balsamic vinegar production. The company has its own research labs where new developments are made in the areas of cosmetics and disinfection. The diversity and complexity of the range of products on offer is guaranteed by highly qualified specialists.
When producing its spirits, the company places a great deal of importance on natural raw materials and skilled craftsmanship. Recipes handed down over many generations are implemented using modern technology and adhering to strict quality controls. The traditional Fernet 1882 brand as well as rum and liqueur made from wild cherries and coffee have recently been complemented by the addition of Nikov vodka to the range which comes in four different flavours – classic, mandarin, vanilla and red fruits. The Nikov vodka has been awarded the Superior Taste Award by the International Taste & Quality Institute in Brussels. This independent organisation of chefs and sommeliers works to assess, award and promote foods and beverages with exceptional flavour.
Nikov vodka also impressed at the World-Spirits Award and was awarded a gold by the jury.

Waldemar Behn: Unique spirits brands

The slogan ‘Kennen Sie den? Der ist von BEHN!’ (Do you know this one? It’s from BEHN!) is what made this family company from Eckernförde famous. In 1892, Waldemar Behn, son of a Hamburg beer brewer, established a retail store for beverages in Schleswig-Holstein. He initially supplied beer to workers building the Kaiser-Wilhelm Canal, the present-day Kiel Canal. The product range was later extended to include non-alcoholic drinks and spirits of his own production for the catering trade. In 1906, Waldemar Behn bought the Eckernförder Dampfbierbrauerei brewery so that this Baltic resort of Eckernförde became the company headquarters, which it still is today.

After the Second World War, alongside running a specialised beverage wholesale trade, the company concentrated on producing branded items in the spirits sector, including typical products of the region, such as Germany’s most popular anise spirit ‘Küstennebel’, ‘Fischergeist’ and ‘Original Friesengeist’. Starting from the Northern Germany region, the Behn family company developed into a national and international provider with the brand ‘Kleiner Feigling’. With one of the world’s highest awarded cream liqueurs, ‘Dooley’s Original Toffee Liqueur’, the company finally achieved its international breakthrough which was solidified with the purchase of the brand ‘DANZKA Vodka’ in 2013. Today, Behn’s range of products consists of award-winning spirits brands that are available almost everywhere in the world.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Andalö Sea Buckthorn Liqueur, the aperitif of the northern summer.

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.

Berentzen Group: 260 years of cultured distilled spirits

Berentzen Group is an innovative beverage company that boasts a wide portfolio and develops, produces and markets varied and fashionable drinks concepts. The portfolio includes spirits, alcohol-free beverages and fresh juices. With over 260 years of experience, they are one of the oldest national manufacturers of spirits and have a market presence in over 60 countries to date, with brands such as Berentzen and Puschkin as well as reasonably priced private label products.

In April 2023, Norden Sea Salt Gin was launched on the German market under the Doornkaat brand. It is a speciality on the gin shelf, as selected North Sea botanicals create an extraordinary and intense taste experience: juniper provides the spice, sea buckthorn and rosehip the fruity tartness. Norden Sea Salt Gin is rounded off with a pinch of sea salt. This spirit spreads the genuine nature and authenticity of the North Sea coast throughout Germany. It is versatile and can be enjoyed neat, on ice or mixed as a long drink or cocktail.

Tres Países Premium Rum combines distillates from Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic. After being stored for up to eight years in American white oak bourbon casks, they come to Europe for refinement by the master blender. The characteristics of the countries provide the taste profile: vanilla and butterscotch, elegant fruit, banana and chocolate. It is also available in a port cask finish, which is refined in aged casks for another six months.

At the World Spirits Award 2026, there was Gold for Tres Países Premium Rum and Silver for Doornkaat Norden Sea Salt Gin.