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Lehar – The liqueur manufacturer with a successful recipe

Josef Lehar, a relative of Franz Lehar (the ‘king of operetta’), established an enterprise in 1902 that also had to do with composition – in his case harmonious distilled spirits, vinegar, oil, and tea – and which was able to continue growing, even through times of crisis. At the first international exhibition for ‘Trade, Commerce and Social Hygiene’ in 1908, a herb liqueur – the ‘Original Lehar Bitter’ – was awarded a certificate of honour. The company was taken over in 1976 by Mr. and Mrs. Wiesböck and transformed into the company it is today. Since March 2007, Dietmar Messner, a qualified graduate in business administration and a market researcher, has been running the business according to tradition as the owner.

Today, a wide range of high quality products is available at the modern company in Ebreichsdorf: the company focuses predominantly on the production and bottling of alcoholic products from Austria and abroad, the production and trade of speciality foods and diabetic products as well as other health, pharmacy and cosmetics products. The spirits sector deals with liqueurs, brandies, spirits, schnapps, rum and bitters as well as international brands, Gerasdorfer brandies and fruits in alcohol.

Together with the more than 100 years of experience, high processing reliability and strict quality controls ensure an appealing price-performance ratio for all Austrian retail chains, regionally organised and non-organised specialist dealers, retailers and the catering industry. Lehar’s success is not limited to Austria – the company’s fine products are also appreciated internationally, with exports to Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Slovakia.

Lehar’s imaginative compositions won classification as a ‘Master Class Distillery 2014’ at the World Spirits Award, with gold for the Likörmacher Herb Liqueur, Likörmacher Egg-Poppy Liqueur, Likörmacher Advocaat-Rum-Coconut and Likörmacher Hazelnut, and silver for the Likörmacher Advocaat-Vanilla and Likörmacher Damson Liqueur.

Heidebrennerei Bosselmann: Chemist and botanist, hunter and gatherer

The Heidebrennerei Distillery lies amidst the Luneburg Heath at the gateway to Hamburg. All their botanicals grow in the immediate vicinity in the largest heather biosphere reserve amidst moors and the 4,000-year-old burial mounds that characterise this rough landscape. The basis of their range is always formed by a strong hint of juniper, rounded off with a fruity body of sloe, wild blackberries and cranberries. The fresh citrus flavour of the Heidegin (heath gin) is provided by lemon balm, lemon verbena and fresh Douglas fir. Further botanicals include juniper branches and heather.

Gerhard Bosselmann and two herb ladies – the heart of the distillery – gather many ingredients themselves. Nearly all the botanicals are ground by hand to best release the essential oils. The mash is processed in stages over 72 hours and the distilling process ends at 40% to ensure an optimal taste. The gin is always unfiltered. Barrel Aged Gin is a speciality for which previously used oak and chestnut barrels are utilised.

The softest water from sources under filtering moors and sand dunes is guided over rose quartz and semi-precious stones after an ion exchange to relax it. “The distillery is a 120-litre facility, we produce the smallest batches in a London Dry Gin procedure in Germany’s purportedly smallest private gin distillery – under the motto of slow distillation at a low temperature. I am determined not to focus on quantity and profit. Only in this way can the fragile aromas release slowly, without partially dissolving the wood-body of rose hip, sloe and currant pips. Each bottle is a little work of art that is filled, sealed and labelled by hand”, as Mr. Bosselmann says.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Heidegin and bronze for Master Destillerie Cut London Dry barrel aged.

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.

MBG International Premium Brands – Brands with added value

“We Love Liquids.” This slogan has accompanied MBG on its worldwide path of success since it was founded in 1993 under the name P.O.S. Marketing + Vertrieb GmbH: Strong brands have been established around the world in nearly 60 countries, with innovative own brands, renowned retail brands, great ideas and a lot of energy. With over 250 employees, the MBG Group currently generates over € 200 million and, every year, more than a million hectolitres are produced. The portfolio in Germany includes 12 own brands and 6 retail brands (from non-alcoholic drinks to low proof drinks to wines & spirits) for 90,000 customers.

“Our recipe for successful brands is the mixture of passion, conviction and knowledge of the market. If all goes well, names and products become new worlds which consumers love. Success is not always predictable, which means that courage is needed above all. The right moment has to be found and hard work put in, just like with a hit single: some are one hit wonders while others become classics.” Little can be added to this definition from Managing Director Andreas W. Herb. From the MBG Group headquarters in Paderborn, a great deal of expertise makes successful brands, tailored to the respective target group and the market segment. Many brands that are well known on shop shelves and in the gastronomy sector have played a role in the history of the company.

Participation in the World Spirits Award yielded gold for Dos Mas Nasty Nuts Shot.