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World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

The ultimate guide through the world of spirits - with current ratings of the best distilleries and commercial enterprises.
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Destillerie

Company:
St. Kilian Distillers GmbH
Address:
Hauptstrasse 1 – 5
Place:
63924 Rüdenau
Country:
Germany
Products:
  • Whisky Allgemein
  • Liköre
St. Kilian Distillers: Whisky made in Germany following Scottish tradition

Born from the idea of creating the largest whisky distillery in Germany, the owner Andreas Thümmler, the whisky legend David F. Hynes from Dublin and the master distiller Mario Rudolf started converting their plan into reality in 2012. Four years later, their dream was established in Rüdenau near Miltenberg am Main, based on the Scottish model, and within a short time the little village had developed into the centre of German whisky. A willingness to experiment is a top priority. Alongside a wide variety of malts, it also comprises way more than 390 different sizes and types of barrels, where whisky can mature under ideal conditions near the distillery – amid the pristine nature of the Odenwald forest in former NATO bunkers. At St. Kilian, craftsmanship and tradition meet technology and innovation. On Saint Patrick’s Day in 2016, the first distillate for barrel number 1 was created in Scottish washbacks and two 6,000 litre Forsyths copper pot stills from Speyside, helped along with German engineering skills. At the end of 2020, they succeeded in what was no doubt the most successful whisky launch in Germany: the combination of single malt whisky made in Germany with the cult figure Bud Spencer on the label. One year later, two whiskies followed with Spencer’s film partner Terence Hill. In 2021, the first heavy metal edition, ‘Tunes of War’, paid tribute to the German band ‘Grave Digger’, followed by further single malt whiskies and a cooperation with the British band ‘Judas Priest’: single malt whiskies and editions produced with ultra heavily peated barley malt bottled in a 0.7-litre bottle. Since the end of 2022, the core product range comprises two single malt whiskies: ‘CLASSIC – Mild & Fruity’ and ‘PEATED – Rich & Smoky’ made of 100% barley malt from Germany and the Scottish Highlands. Premium liqueurs are also produced in Rüdenau, and range from fruity-fresh and creamy-sweet to gently spicy and smoky-peaty varieties. The liqueurs are bottled in elegant, matte black 500 ml pot still glass bottles.

The World Class Distillery 2025 received Double Gold for St. Kilian Peated Rich & Smoky (Spirit of the Year & Award 2025), Terence Hill The Hero and Celtic Castle 2024, Gold for Bud Spencer The Legend, Judas Priest Invincible Shield, Judas Priest British Steel, Banana Joe Cream Liqueur, St. Kilian Classic Mild & Fruity, Terence Hill Voll auf die Nuss (hazelnut liqueur), Johnny Firpo Homemade Ein Klitze Pistazie (pistachio liqueur), Advocaat Egg Liqueur and Bud Spencer Distilled Dry Gin, and Silver for Signature Edition Fourteen.
AwardsPointsSpiritEventDetail
Double-Gold 96.8Celtic Castle 20242025Details
Double-Gold 96.3Terence Hill - The Hero - Whisky, rauchig2025Details
Double-Gold 96St. Kilian Peated - Rich & Smoky2025Details
Gold 95Advocaat - Eierlikör made with Single Malt Whisky2025Details
Gold 94.3Judas Priest - British Steel2025Details
Gold 93.7Johnny Firpo – Homemade – Ein Klitze Pistazie2025Details
Gold 93.3Banana Joe - Bananen-Sahnelikör2025Details
Gold 93St. Kilian - Classic - Mild & Fruity2025Details
Gold 92.3Bud Spencer - The Legend - Whisky, mild2025Details
Gold 92Terence Hill - Voll auf die Nuss - Haselnusslikör2025Details
Gold 92Judas Priest - Invincible Shield2025Details
Gold 90Bud Spencer - The Legend - Distilled Dry Gin2025Details
Silver 88Signature Edition Fourteen2025Details

Destillerie

Company:
Donau Origin GmbH
Address:
Straßäcker 51
Place:
86697 Oberhausen
Country:
Germany
Products:
  • Gin
Donau Origin: Gins from Bavaria with symbolic power

The young gin manufacturing enterprise in Oberhausen on the Danube defines itself thus: “We have made it our mission to reflect the way of life of our beautiful Bavarian homeland in expressive gins. Regionality, sustainability and the highest quality are just as important as honest, solid manual labour. These values are also reflected in the company logo. The three waves stand for the gins, the four fields for the founders and the shape for a glance into the pot still. The Danube is the source of our origins.”

After preparing for a good two years, at the beginning of 2021 an old machinery hall with an adjoining gravel area was turned into a distillery with a garden, local fruit trees and a meadow with two populations of bees. Everything is produced by hand at a slow pace and with attention to detail. “Pumps and plastic are banned entirely.” During the maceration of the botanicals, they work according to secret recipes, only using organically certified raw ingredients. Distilling is gentle on the aromas in a 200-litre still, then the distillates rest for over three months in a stainless-steel barrel.

The drinking strength is 42 volume percent, “because apart from the perfect ratio of aroma, texture and strength, it is also the answer to the question of life, the universe and all the rest.” Those who would like to find out more should read Douglas Adams’ cult novel ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’. After maturation, the gins are filtered by means of gravity and given a last quality check before they are filled and sealed in bottles with a high-quality design.

At the World Spirits Award, silver was awarded to MORGENtau, and bronze to SOMMERwind and FICHTENgold.
AwardsPointsSpiritEventDetail
Silver 89MORGENtau2022Details
Bronze 78FICHTENgold2022Details
Bronze 77SOMMERwind2022Details

Handel

Company:
ALDI Ireland
Address:
Birch House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare
Place:
W91 YX71 Naas
Country:
Ireland
Products:
  • Destillerie
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.

At the World Spirits Award, there was Gold for Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey and Boyle’s Gin, and Silver for Boyle’s Sloe & Damson Gin and Ardfallen Whiskey.
AwardsPointsSpiritEventDetail
Gold 93.3Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey2026Details
Gold 90Boyle’s Gin2026Details
Silver 88Ardfallen Whiskey2026Details
Silver 84Boyle's Sloe & Damson Gin2026Details

Handel

Company:
LLC Prevelon Rus
Address:
55 Ryabinovaya str.
Place:
121471 Москва 471
Country:
Russian Federation
Products:
  • Wodka
  • Destillerie
Prevelon: Premium vodka by order of the Kremlin

Kremlin Premium Vodka was created as the official drink for all diplomatic receptions and banquets at the Kremlin and was intended as the hallmark of high-ranking events. The decision in favour of the most traditional Russian drink was unanimous. It was only produced on special order and in limited amounts. The first large batch of this ‘protocol’ vodka was ordered in February 1945 for the Yalta Conference. Kremlin Award Grand Premium came on the market in 2011 and is exported to 38 countries, and in many of them it holds the top position in the ultra-premium vodka category. Since 2016, the product range has included Kremlin Award Classic, which enjoys great popularity amongst all partners.

Two products have been added to the product range. Kremlin Award Organic is based on alcohol that is produced from the highest quality organic wheat, and on natural drinking water. The vodka passes through a multi-stage purification through pure birchwood charcoal. The alcohol for Kremlin Award Vintage is made from organic grains from the same harvest. The wheat grains are stored in a grain silo until they reach their physiological maturity in order to get a high-quality base product. The ‘luxury alcohol’ is then mixed with natural drinking water and, after purification, is granted a resting period. Production is limited to the year stated on the label.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Kremlin Award Organic and Kremlin Award Vintage.
AwardsPointsSpiritEventDetail
Gold 93.3Kremlin Award Vintage2020Details
Gold 93Kremlin Award Organic2020Details
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