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Schwarze & Schlichte – Brand personalities from Westphalia

The family business Schwarze & Schlichte from Westphalia has been representing the highest quality spirits for the last 345 years with a distinct range of national specialities, regional traditional brands and successful international innovations. This top quality is based on a distilling tradition acquired over centuries which has been passed down over twelve generations. Even today, distilling and maceration still take place at the company’s own distillery where plenty of time and skill are invested. The selection and processing of the best raw materials and continuous control of the production process ensure a consistently high quality. One factor for success is the ongoing brand management in accordance with the specific requirements of the various brand personalities.

Three Sixty Vodka is one of the purest and mildest vodkas in the world. A fourfold distillation process ensures tangible softness and exceptional clarity while the purity of the vodka is all down to the time-consuming “Diamond Filtration” process: the finest filters are used, set with crystals like diamond dust, to remove even the smallest of suspended particles from the distillate. Even the packaging is unique: the facet-cut bottle of pure white shiny glass sets off this premium vodka to perfection. A black velvet label completes the sophisticated design.

The Grappa Bianca from Scavi & Ray is characterised by its full-bodied balanced flavour with powerful and intense aromas of marc. This crystal-clear brandy is soft and deliciously balanced thanks to the exquisite skill of the master distillery. The intense and fruity aroma is reminiscent of the sun-soaked vineyards in Italy.

Both products received a silver medal at the World-Spirits.

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.

Donner-Peltier Distillers – A great team from Louisiana

In 2011, Tom and Beth Donner and Henry and Jennifer Peltier opened their Donner-Peltier Distillery in the middle of a sugarcane field in Thibodaux, Louisiana, with the aim of producing the best quality from the local raw materials of sugar and rice. A wide range of knowledge and experience from chemistry, combined with a burning passion for fine spirits, made up the basis for great team work, supported by Tyson Frizzell and Brad Blackwell, who are responsible for the production.

The high quality DPD product range comprises Oryza Vodka (distilled 17 times) and Oryza Gin (from eleven plants and a citrus touch of the South), both based on 100% authentic Louisiana long grain rice. The latest product is the Whiskey La 1, the first whiskey matured in Louisiana after Prohibition. Corn provides the body, rye the flavour, barley the balance and rice the sweetness. The Rougaroux rum range takes its name from the mythical creature ‘Roo ga roo’ that is said to roam the sugarcane fields at full moon and pass sentence on evil spirits – its curse lasts 101 days. If you lay 13 pennies in front of the door, you will be safe from ‘Roo ga roo’. Since it can only count to 12, it tries again and again until sunrise, then it has to get back to its hole … The Rougaroux 13 Pennies Rum keeps the legend alive, and it is refined with roasted pecans, vanilla pods from Madagascar and sugarcane molasses from the region. The Rougaroux Full Moon Dark Rum ages in American oak, and the clear Rougaroux Sugarshine, made from molasses and sugarcane, rounds off the fiery trio.

Over recent years the achievements of this small Louisiana dream team have gained worldwide recognition and also earned well-deserved attention at the World Spirits Award, with silver for the Full Moon Dark Rum, Sugarshine, Oryza Vodka, Oryza Gin and American Whiskey.

Juniper Tree Trading: The Spy Gin

This London Dry Gin was born out of a special passion for gin, combined with the raw beauty of the Swabian Alb and carefully selected botanicals such as coriander, cardamom, orange and lemon peel, cloves, ginger, and others. A long time was spent deciding on a name, labels, logo, bottle, content and much more, as owner Peter Frey remembers:

“My master distiller has over 20 years’ experience in making gin and has achieved absolute harmony when it comes to maceration and the interaction of the botanicals. Following distillation and the reduction of alcohol to drinking strength, the gin is bottled, with only 250 bottles per batch, labelled by hand and wrapped in black tissue paper to give The Spy an air of secrecy. The corks are also handmade and each is branded with the logo using a lever press and branding iron – it shows the spy of Aalen with his beard and pipe, who watches over the inhabitants of the town from the town hall on the market square – and this is how the tale goes.”

As the imperial cities were in conflict with the Emperor, his army was already camped outside the town. The frightened people of Aalen sent the cleverest man to the enemy camp to determine the strength of the troops. The spy was caught and brought before the Emperor. When asked what he was doing there, the spy answered, “Do not be startled, Lord, I just wanted to see how many guns and such you all have. You see, I’m the spy from Aalen.” The Emperor laughed at his candour and pretend simplemindedness and piled gifts on him, letting the inhabitants know that it was his pleasure to live in peace alongside such clever and brave people and forgiving the town fathers.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for The Spy Gin.