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Tradition Mexico – Tequila without compromises

The friends behind Padre azul, the new tequila in the premium segment, stand united on one matter: their passion for Mexico. “We appreciate high quality tequila, and with Padre azul we are bringing an exclusive product to Europe. We searched for the perfect distillery for a long time. At Tres Mujeres in Jalisco in the highlands of Mexico we found what we were looking for.” 100% Mexico – 100% handcraft – 100% agave.

These requirements and quality criteria apply to the whole production process, which is why each bottle also wears the sought-after quality seal from the Mexican authorities, “Consejo Regulador del Tequila” (CRT). There were no compromises when it came to the design of the bottles: they are made by hand and adorned with a 270g skull which represents the skull culture of Mexico.

Padre azul is available in three grades of maturity, depending on the length of storage. The Añejo usually spends eighteen months in French oak barrels to achieve a mature, full-bodied taste. The Reposado needs at least eight months in barrels for its subtle vanilla tone. The Blanco is a clear tequila which is bottled straight after distillation – it is soft and mild in taste. None of the three need salt or lemon – you can enjoy them neat. True to the motto: no compromises.

At the World Spirits Award, the trio was very successful: there was double gold for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul anejo, gold for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul reposado, and silver for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul blanco.

Jim Beam Distillery – Bourbon straight on

Knob Creek is named after a rivulet in Kentucky, the home of President Abraham Lincoln. His steadfast attitude seems to serve as an example for this straightforward bourbon. The square ‘chemist’s bottle’ suits these traditional values perfectly, as does the striking label which is reminiscent of the old tradition of wrapping bottles in newspaper. To this day, a mixture of experience and craftsmanship is the recipe for success for the bourbon from Knob Creek.

The bourbon was at the peak of its success in 1919, when the nationwide prohibition of the sale, manufacture and transport of alcohol began – lasting until 1933. Following this, a new start was impossible for many distilleries; others couldn’t finance the customary long maturing process of the bourbon. This situation motivated Booker Noe to revive the traditional bourbon style from the time before the prohibition: rich in aroma, with discreet sweetness due to year-long maturation in strongly ‘toasted’ wooden barrels from American white oak. In 1950, he joined the family business – his mother was the daughter of Jim Beam, which meant bourbon was already in his blood – and completed his training as Master Distiller. With the small series of premium bourbon he launched, the term ‘batch’ (small) was established and revolutionised the industry. His son, Fred Noe, continues with this clear strategy: “I learnt the business from scratch, listened to my father and learnt on the job. I know what it means to make perfect bourbon. Each bottle is a reflection of my family.” Since 1992, the Knob Creek brand has represented these values with the perfect combination of tradition and top quality.

A golden trio was successful at the World Spirits Award: Knob Creek Rye Whiskey Small Batch, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon and Knob Creek Straight Bourbon.

MattiE – Ellmauer Obstbrennerei: First-class distillery craftsmanship

Ellmauer Obstbrennerei is a Tyrolean family business that was handed over in 2009 from the Spielthenner-Walch family into the experienced hands of the Erber family, which has a long tradition of distilling dating back to 1909 in Brixen im Thale. After the external takeover, the talented distiller Matthias Erber moved to Ellmau in search of new challenges, where his fine skills are being put into practice.

The fourth and fifth generations work harmoniously together in the loving family business with the sole aim of producing high-quality distillates. Father and sons do everything they can to process only the finest fruit into fine brandies, because the essence is in the fruit, according to the distillery’s motto. Careful handling of raw materials and first-class mashing are the hallmarks of the Ellmauer Obstbrennerei. Whether handpicked sour cherries, Stanz plums, apricots, rowan berries or Gravensteiner apples: here you find everything your heart desires. In addition to fine brandies, schnapps and liqueurs, jams are prepared following traditional recipes.

On the one hand, inherited expertise meets acquired expertise in high-proof spirits. The trained brewer, maltster and distiller is the son of a famous autodidact in the world of spirits. On the other hand, a highly qualified producer meets a fully motivated distributor. Matthias is the doer, while Ramona is the hub of MattiE. The bonus for customers is that communication channels in a company could not be shorter.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, there was Gold for Williams Pear Brandy, Cherry Brandy and Sour Cherry Brandy, and Silver for Apricot Brandy, Red Williams Pear Brandy and Damson Brandy.

Grasovka: Vodka with the pure mildness of nature

Grasovka, the vodka with the power of bison grass, has been a brand of the Underberg Group since 1976. The special feature of this Polish vodka speciality is based on its flavouring with bison grass, which grows in the Bialowieza National Park on the border between Poland and Belarus. Its excellent quality is also evident from the premium packaging with the embossed bison on every bottle. The modern, fresh look is underlined by the ice-blue cap, a symbol of the cold, clear water of Polish lakes.

The farmers in Bialowieza started flavouring their ‘drop of water’ with this lush grass centuries ago. The bison grass in the forest clearings is harvested by hand in early summer, dried in the sun, bundled together and cut to the right length. Then vodka is poured over the grass several times to acquire an aromatic essence. Following a strictly guarded recipe, this extract is combined with vodka made from grain until the colour, aroma and flavour meet the premium standards. Finally, the vodka is filtered once again and bottled together with a hand-picked stem of bison grass as its typical hallmark. Due to its pleasant, mild taste, this original Polish vodka is mostly enjoyed neat, but can also be used to prepare a number of mixed drinks and cocktails.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Grasovka Bisongrass Vodka.