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Jim Beam Distillery – Bourbon straight on

Knob Creek is named after a rivulet in Kentucky, the home of President Abraham Lincoln. His steadfast attitude seems to serve as an example for this straightforward bourbon. The square ‘chemist’s bottle’ suits these traditional values perfectly, as does the striking label which is reminiscent of the old tradition of wrapping bottles in newspaper. To this day, a mixture of experience and craftsmanship is the recipe for success for the bourbon from Knob Creek.

The bourbon was at the peak of its success in 1919, when the nationwide prohibition of the sale, manufacture and transport of alcohol began – lasting until 1933. Following this, a new start was impossible for many distilleries; others couldn’t finance the customary long maturing process of the bourbon. This situation motivated Booker Noe to revive the traditional bourbon style from the time before the prohibition: rich in aroma, with discreet sweetness due to year-long maturation in strongly ‘toasted’ wooden barrels from American white oak. In 1950, he joined the family business – his mother was the daughter of Jim Beam, which meant bourbon was already in his blood – and completed his training as Master Distiller. With the small series of premium bourbon he launched, the term ‘batch’ (small) was established and revolutionised the industry. His son, Fred Noe, continues with this clear strategy: “I learnt the business from scratch, listened to my father and learnt on the job. I know what it means to make perfect bourbon. Each bottle is a reflection of my family.” Since 1992, the Knob Creek brand has represented these values with the perfect combination of tradition and top quality.

A golden trio was successful at the World Spirits Award: Knob Creek Rye Whiskey Small Batch, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon and Knob Creek Straight Bourbon.

Prevelon: Premium vodka by order of the Kremlin

Kremlin Premium Vodka was created as the official drink for all diplomatic receptions and banquets at the Kremlin and was intended as the hallmark of high-ranking events. The decision in favour of the most traditional Russian drink was unanimous. It was only produced on special order and in limited amounts. The first large batch of this ‘protocol’ vodka was ordered in February 1945 for the Yalta Conference. Kremlin Award Grand Premium came on the market in 2011 and is exported to 38 countries, and in many of them it holds the top position in the ultra-premium vodka category. Since 2016, the product range has included Kremlin Award Classic, which enjoys great popularity amongst all partners.

Two products have been added to the product range. Kremlin Award Organic is based on alcohol that is produced from the highest quality organic wheat, and on natural drinking water. The vodka passes through a multi-stage purification through pure birchwood charcoal. The alcohol for Kremlin Award Vintage is made from organic grains from the same harvest. The wheat grains are stored in a grain silo until they reach their physiological maturity in order to get a high-quality base product. The ‘luxury alcohol’ is then mixed with natural drinking water and, after purification, is granted a resting period. Production is limited to the year stated on the label.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Kremlin Award Organic and Kremlin Award Vintage.

Brauerei Hirt: A passion for the authentic

The Hirt private brewery sees itself primarily as a Pils beer brewery, but has also produced exceptional beer brandies since 1998.

Only special beers are used to create the Braumeisterbrand brandy, and pure brewed beer is used for the mashing process and is distilled in a column distillery. The fruity aroma develops after a long time in storage. The Zigarrenbrand cigar brandy is stored in French oak barriques following the distillation process, where it is left to mature for over five years.

The Hirter GenussAkademie offers a demanding range of courses – for amateur brewers as well as for top catering professionals, seminars on pairing beer with various foods, and certified beer sommelier courses. 16 speciality beers are produced in Hirt, which include the Privat Pils based on an old Bohemian recipe, the dark Morchl, the malty 1270, and the non-alcoholic Freigeist.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Hirter Braumeisterbrand and Hirter Zigarrenbrand.

Miguel Torres: A family empire with a special commitment

Juan Torres Master Distillers is the business division of the Torres family (their roots can be traced back to the 17th century), which has devoted itself to the production of high-quality spirits. The origins date back to 1928, when Juan Torres Casals from the second generation of the family began making brandies from white wines from the Penedès region to the southwest of Barcelona.

With 90 years of experience, the art of distillation is constantly being developed at Torres. The product range includes brandy, pisco, orange liqueur and tequila, which are sold under the brand names Torres Brandy, El Gobernador, Magdala and Rocado.

The company is now in its fifth generation, employs more than 1,300 people in total and is available in more than 150 countries around the world. Wine bars in Shanghai, Barcelona and Santiago de Chile, as well as an impressive social media presence, demonstrate their international commitment. Their employees are their ‘primary asset’ and take top rank in their list of corporate values. Ecology also has a significant value, and CO2 emissions per bottle have been reduced by 30% since 2008. Fair trade is a must, with the goal of maximum fairness, based on transparency and respect. As part of the family foundation, the family has cooperated with more than 400 projects around the world since the mid-1980s – with the protection of children as the main focus.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for El Pisco Gobernador Reservado (Moscatel), and silver for Torres 15 Reservada Privada and Magdala (Orange Liqueur).