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Luding Group: Vodka Tchaikovsky as a high-spirited homage to the famous composer

At the beginning of the 1990s, the modern distillery ‘Fortuna’ was launched in a green field in the south of Russia – in the Krasnodar region, a strip of land with spa resorts and health centres. The distillery has specialised in unusual products, in a region with a particularly green fingerprint. The vodka created in honour of the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky is special. The concept for this exceptional product is comparable with one of his musical scores: the work ‘Swan Lake’ served as an inspiration. Art enthusiasts can thus immerse themselves in the history of Russian estate life in the 19th century. The traditional white and blue colours underline the purity of this vodka.

The technical particularities span a wide quality-orientated spectrum: from the selected wheat, their own well water and the special treatment of the distillate with skimmed milk powder to the crystal-clear filtration with active birch coal. With so much perfectionism and monitoring of the individual production steps, the result is an especially gentle, animating and very typical vodka based on wheat. After the diluting of alcohol and pure distillate, the production process is continued with maturation in steel tanks. The aim is to ‘wed’ both ‘waters’, resulting in an especially harmonious vodka.

At the World Spirits Award 2022, Vodka Tchaikovsky was awarded double gold and honoured as the best vodka with the title ‘Spirit of the Year’.

Samalens - Specialists with a long-standing tradition

The homeland of the Armagnac is the Gascony region, which was awarded the patent for the special "Alambic Armagnacais" distilling process by Louis XVII. in 1818. Unlike cognac, which is distilled twice, Armagnac is distilled only once in large copper stills.

The Armagnac manufacturer Samalens of Laujuzan was founded in 1882 by Jean Samalens. Today, Pierre Samalens is at the head of the family business. The best Armagnacs are produced here at the heart of the vineyards and oak forests. The wines come exclusively from excellent locations in the Bas-Armagnac region, which experts claim supplies the highest quality - connoisseurs certainly appreciate the finesse and delicate fruit aromas of the products. The distilled wines are then matured under optimal conditions over many years in new oak casks, made of course from hand-crafted Gascony wood.

The largest distillery in the area was renovated in 1973 and now produces various qualities ranging from the VSOP to the Vieille Relique. The youngest Armagnac of this powerful blend is 15 years old. Long-standing tradition and modern technology are certainly no contradiction at Samalens with traditional distilling facilities and electronic controls both in use. A great deal of care goes into the equipment used: the exclusive carafes are of particular note and have enjoyed considerable success even in Japan and Taiwan, both very difficult markets. The company's treasure chest contains one of the most significant collections of old Armagnacs dating back to 1888.

Both Armagnacs impressed at the World-Spirits Award with gold for the VSOP and the Gold Single de Samalens.

Nyborg Distillery – Danish pioneer in organic production

In the port of Nyborg – at a good location on the E20 – a new meeting point for ‘spiritual’ and culinary experiences emerged. Since the opening in summer 2017, Niels and Nicolai Rømer, creative entrepreneurs and well-known organic pioneers, have been following the objective of creating an attractive place to stop on the way through Denmark – for locals as well as tourists.

In the distillery, the specialities are whisky, rum, gin, snaps (Aquavit) and brandy based on regional organic products – fruit from Fünen, the country’s third largest island. Experienced employees work with a passion to bring top quality into the bottle – and also produce bespoke spirits. At the Nyborg Distillery, customers can buy a whole barrel, which will be looked after according to their wishes, from the choice of fruit to the filling, including advice on storage, aromas and more.

Part of the building is used for gastronomy: with a bar, café and restaurant. The ambitious range includes organic cocktails made from in-house spirits, coffee and cake, daytime snacks and Smørrebrød, in the evening, regional Danish and Nordic dishes. A shop offers products from the distillery and also a selection from the Ørbæk brewery and from Mols Organic.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Organic Gin Distilled DEW 87°, Organic Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength, Ardor Isle of Fionia (World Spirits Award 2018 & Spirit of the Year 2018), gold for Organic Gin MIST 114°, Organic Gin Distilled Frost 92°, Organic Single Malt Whisky Ardor Isle of Fionia, and silver for Organic Rum Hurancán.