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Berentzen Group: 260 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 2026, there was Gold for Tres Países Premium Rum and Silver for Doornkaat Norden Sea Salt Gin.

Diageo – From London to the whole world

Approximately 33,000 employees are employed worldwide at Diageo, the market leader in premium spirits, with Smirnoff (vodka), Johnnie Walker (whiskey), J&B (Scotch whiskey), Baileys (liqueur), Captain Morgan (rum), Cuervo (tequila) and Tanqueray (gin), Guinness beer and branded wines. Production takes place all around the world: from Great Britain and Ireland, Italy, Spain and Africa, to the USA, Canada, Latin America, Australia, India and the Caribbean. The global corporation emerged in 1997 from the merger between Guinness and GrandMet. 180 markets around the world are handled from its London headquarters.

A lot of work and lots of attention to detail go into creating the in-depth product descriptions on Diageo’s website. Information and analysis is provided about issues ranging from detailed descriptions of the production down to the most minute ingredients. Finally, they are aware of the size of their company and also of their responsibilities as a supplier of alcoholic products. The name Diageo was also deliberately chosen – it represents their agenda. Put together from ‘dia’ (the Latin word for ‘day’) and ‘geo’ (the Greek word for ‘world’), it means that every day people are celebrating all over the world with products from their company. These products open up possibilities never dreamed of for special days and nights, marking special life events and even making the smaller things in life feel magical.

Participation in the World Spirits Award was magical: there was double gold for Tanqueray No. 10 (Spirit of the Year 2016), gold for Gordon’s London Dry Gin and Tanqueray London Dry Gin, as well as silver for Tanqueray Rangpur.

Soul Surfer: Deep Dry Gin

Soul Surfer Gin is a premium dry gin that is distilled and bottled in Germany. The powerful alcohol content of 52 per cent by volume guarantees a high degree of purity and leads to a ‘harmonisation and soothing of the alcoholic sharpness’. This leads to a mild taste sensation: classic, yet modern and refined. The aromas of selected botanicals such as lime, rosemary and mint are a fresh counterpart to the aromatic juniper note.

Soul Surfer Gin was already available on the German market in a similar form for a few months in 2017 and was marketed by an acquaintance. Their preference for gin moved Christopher and Franz-Josef Severin to take over the business themselves. From mid-2018 on, Soul Surfer Gin was overhauled with the help of the Brauweiler fine fruit distillery and (re)entry onto the market was made in mid-2019 – with success, as can be seen and tasted.

At the World Spirits Award, Soul Surfer Gin was awarded gold.

Kavalan – Taiwan’s first single malt whisky

Taiwan’s natural resources gave rise to the founding of the country’s first whisky distillery. Behind the whisky is the King Car Group which operates companies in various sectors, including drinks, food, bio-technology, aquaculture among others. For years, they were looking for the perfect place for whisky production on the subtropical island, where hot, humid summers accelerate the maturation process. Yilan in the north-east of Taiwan was chosen due to the pure spring water of the Central Mountain Range and Snowy Mountain Range. The location also has the cleanest air in the country and is close to the Pacific, where the cool winds from Siberia can be felt in winter. An ideal setting for letting the whisky breathe in its casks.

The distillery was built in record time in just nine months with the first drops produced on 11 March 2006 and the first bottles of Kavalan issued in December 2008. Today, Kavalan is the most-sold product in this field. The company’s technical equipment includes copper distillation stills from overseas, various cask types (bourbon, sherry, American oak, etc.) and professional advisors – some with more than 30 years of experience in drinks manufacture.

The company’s results at the World Spirits Award are just as impressive as the dimensions of its distillery: as well as double gold for the Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, there were another 16 golds and one silver.