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Seven Seals Distillery: Swiss Single Malt

Seven Seals Innovation AG is a young enterprise when it comes to the production and marketing of spirits, where the focus is on high-quality single malts, characterised by quality, innovation, ecology and natural ingredients. The patented Stockhausen method sets new standards in the refinement of spirits, combined with a time-efficient, ecological and economical improvement of production.

The inventor Dolf Stockhausen has turned barrel maturation for spirits on its head. His idea is based on a purely physical law that simulates maturation in a barrel. In 2017, a wood-based, sustainable procedure was developed. Today more surface is given to the distillate after a special treatment of the wood. The result is a shorter maturation process and a rounded taste profile. The manufacturing uses the Speedmaster, with which up to 2,000 litres of a distillate are refined purely physically – without using chemicals. Every batch reaches customers with the same quality, which cannot be ensured with traditional barrel maturation. It is guaranteed during the professional manufacturing that each whisky is matured for at least three years in the barrel as prescribed, before it can go through the process. Seven Seals has also proven that a wide variety of single malts can thereby be created, from classical (Classic Line) to innovative (Zodiac Line). The selection of aroma profiles has also impressed an international clientele.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to The Age of Virgo and The Age of Leo, and silver to Amarone Wood Finish, The Age of Pisces and The Age of Taurus.

Aldi Ireland: Gin and whiskey in retail

Aldi Ireland has several top products in its spirit range: Boyle’s Gin from the Blackwater Distillery and Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery, in addition, Mo Chara Passionfruit & Mango Gin from the Old Carrick Mill.

The Blackwater Distillery has been an Aldi partner since 2016 and developed the private label Boyle’s Gin exclusively for the Irish and British retail market. The product volume of the Blackwater Distillery for Aldi has risen strongly in recent years, whereby 140,800 bottles of the gin series were sold in 2018. The successful gin brand is manufactured in Blackwater Valley, West Waterford, with selected imported ingredients as well as regional apples, blackcurrants and elderflower. CEO Peter Mulryan – former TV producer and author of the book ‘The Whiskeys of Ireland’ – explains, “The partnership with Aldi has helped us to increase turnover enormously, and also to have the security to invest and expand. This includes on-site bottling facilities and a visitor centre.” Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery got its name from the region in County Cork where the malted barley comes from, and is only manufactured in small batches. The business was founded in 2003 by childhood friends who started out with only two small stills they had bought in Switzerland. Now the largest distillery in the country, it currently employs over 80 staff and exports to around 70 countries.

Beim World-Spirits Award 2025 gab es Gold für Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey, Dúchas Irish Whiskey, Silver für Ardfallen Triple Cask Whiskey, Boyle‘s Sloe & Damson Gin, Dolmen Honey Moonshine.

Berentzen Group: 250 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 2025, there was Gold for Doornkaat Norden Sea Salt Gin and Tres Países Premium Rum.