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Ostoya: Polish vodka for the world

Ostoya is part of the portfolio of Wyborowa Pernod Ricard S.A. The name Wyborowa can be translated as ‘selected’ and is a symbol for a product that over decades has set the standard of how a high-quality rye vodka should taste.

Ostoya was the first wheat vodka produced in Poland. The spirit is made from fine grains grown in Bieszczady, one of Poland’s most pristine regions. Amidst the clear streams and beautiful meadows of the highlands, everything runs to the rhythm of nature. It is a refuge of wilderness and raw nature, where time seems to stand still. Here you can breathe deeply, away from the hustle and bustle of civilisation. At the Pernod Ricard production plant in Zielona Góra, the products are distilled and carbon-filtered for exceptional purity in rectification plants in Poznan. This premium vodka is 100 percent Polish, from the grain to the glass. The design of the bottle is striking, inspired by the Bieszczady region, which also determines the origin of the wheat used. It is often sold in 700 ml bottles, but there are also larger formats, for example 1.75 litres, with atmospheric lighting.

Ostoya Vodka won Gold at the World Spirits Award.

Schloss Fels – Shelves of variety

For the last 30 years, Weingut Schloss Fels has been amongst the top vineyards and spirit producers. Today, nearly 90 hectares of own vineyards are cultivated in Fels and Rohrendorf near Krems, making this one of the largest winegrowing estates in Austria.

The vineyard’s home-grown wines are marketed under the brand name ‘Weingut Schloss Fels’. Grapes from contracted winegrowers are also processed and used in the company, but only where they meet the strict quality criteria.

Managing director Klaus Klein clearly defines the company’s standards: “Schloss Fels stands for regional products, traditional methods, the latest technology and uncompromising quality control.”

Apart from wine, spirits are also produced, which are sold under the brand names ‘Felser’ (clear schnapps, rum and speciality blends), TAIGA Wódka, Silver Crown Gin, Golden Dew Scotch Whisky, Barbossa light Rum and ‘Desirée’ (a mild brandy matured in oak casks). The motto is: high quality at entry-level prices. All products are available in Austria exclusively via the distribution channels of SPAR Österreichische Warenhandels AG: SPAR-Markt, EUROSPAR and INTERSPAR, and some are also available at METRO.

Classified as a First Class Distillery 2016, the business won a whole row of medals at the World Spirits Award: gold for Felser Williams schnapps, Felser hazelnut spirit, Felser raspberry spirit, Silver Crown Special Dry Gin, Felser herb bitter, Felser advocaat and Barbossa Superior Rum, silver for Felser Selection apricot brandy, Felser apricot schnapps, cranberry liqueur and Barbossa Spiced Gold, as well as bronze for Felser Selection Williams brandy.

Bimmerle: Know-how meets regionality and trend awareness

At the production site in the Black Forest town of Sasbach, which was opened in 2015, this family business sets innovative standards in technology, sustainability and environmental protection. For the last five decades, Bimmerle has strived for the highest quality, with focussed know-how, modern high-tech and the traditional art of distilling. This is the first distillery in Germany where all the heating requirements and power generation are covered by the burning of fruit stones combined with woodchips from the region.

In Germany and on the European market, Bimmerle is a leader in the fruit brandies sector with the Lörch brand. In order to make the ‘playground’ more interesting, the brand identity was modernised in 2024 and will be extended in 2025 by a fruit brandy range matured in wooden casks. Needle Black Forest Gin is among the top 5 most widely sold gins in Germany. The portfolio has been expanded since 2018 with WOOD STORK Spiced Rum and the EVERMANN Black Forest whiskies Theo & Wilhelm introduced in 2022. The Black Forest distillery has enriched the liqueur and aperitif market with as many as five exciting creations under the DON PASQUALE brand.

The World Class Distillery 2025 & Distillery of the Year 2025 – Bronze (Bitters & Liqueurs) received Gold for Don Pasquale Limoncello Liqueur, Zünftler Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Wood Stork Spiced Rum, Lörch Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Lörch Vanillekipferl Sahnelikör (vanilla cream liqueur), Needle Gin Green, Don Pasquale Aperitif Bitter Liqueur, Don Pasquale Espresso Martini Liqueur, Don Pasquale Hazelnut Liqueur and Lörch Linzertorte Sahnelikör (Linzer tart cream liqueur). Silver was awarded to Kronenhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Zinselhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Altes Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser (damson spirit), Needle Blackforest Distilled Dry Gin, Needle Gin Rosé, Don Pasquale Pistachio Cream Liqueur, Lörch Bratapfel Sahnelikör (baked apple cream liqueur), Zünftler Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Lörch Williams Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (pear spirit aged in a wooden cask) and Lörch Marille Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (apricot spirit aged in a wooden cask), and Bronze to Lörch Obst Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (fruit spirit aged in a wooden cask).