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Nolet Distillery: Traditional Dutch company

In the heart of Schiedam you will find one of the oldest family businesses in the Netherlands, founded in 1691 and still being run by its twelfth generation today. Genever is traditionally produced in the ‘spirit capital’. This ‘malty gin ancestor’ was originally produced as a medicine as long ago as the 16th century. To refine the barley spirit, the apothecaries used large amounts of juniper. While gin is usually made with a mixture of botanicals, genever is based on grain (malt barley, rye and corn) with juniper. The company’s classic is Ketel 1 Original, a fresh, smooth genever, popular as a ‘KopStoot’ with a glass of beer, and also in cocktails. Ketel 1 Rum Cask Finish is characterised by maturation in oak casks, complemented by the spicy notes of aniseed, juniper and vanilla.

The family archives contain fascinating information about many products. Hundreds of old letters bear witness to the company’s shipments to customers all over the world, and a stash of old postcards and documents are records of the family’s travels. Inspired by this theme and based on a recipe from one of those postcards, the limited edition blend was created as the launch product of a ‘Signature Blend World Collection’. Unlike the usual whisky cask variants, the rum cask was chosen. The decision was made to partner with the world-renowned Amsterdam-based company E & A Scheer, which has specialised in sourcing and blending rum for over three centuries. It will be interesting to see how the Rum Cask Finish variant in the Ketel 1 portfolio appeals not only to genever fans but also to lovers of rum, whisky and other spirits.

Gold at the World Spirits Award was awarded to Ketel 1 Signature Blend Rum Cask Finish.

Achim Lohner: Traditional enterprise with a future

Founded in 1912, the Lohners boast an impressive growth story of 110 years of a family bakery chain. Almost 170 bakeries with over 2,000 employees in Germany sell fresh baked goods, including cakes, to more than 60,000 customers daily. Sustainability concepts have always been considered and observed throughout the long company history. Thinking of tomorrow already today is not an empty slogan here but a practiced company philosophy. This ranges from using local suppliers, reducing energy consumption by using the latest technologies to cooperating with sustainable agriculture.

The new managing director Marc Kranz has now gone one step further. He has combined his longstanding fascination with gin with the reduction of returns from the branches. The crust of one of the top breads of the bakery, the ‘Raubritter’ (robber knight), has been used as a basis for the high-quality London Dry Gin ‘The Bread Knight’. Together with the Hubertus Vallendar Distillery, Marc Kranz and Mario Vallendar have created a unique product, as it were – a taste journey lined with juniper trees and fresh bread, accompanied by various botanicals. The partiality to traditional and artisanal procedures, coupled with great dedication, has resulted in a unique experience.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to The Bread Knight London Dry Gin.

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.

Georg Hemmeter – XUXU, Escorial, SILLA EL FUERTE

Georg Hemmeter – strawberry drinks with exceptional flavour guaranteed

The name Georg Hemmeter – a company of the Underberg Group – stands for innovative spirits, in particular the XUXU range. The fresh and fruity strawberry drink contains 66 percent fruit plus crystal-clear vodka, rounded off with a dash of lime. The harmony between the sweetness of the fruit and just 15% alcohol by volume is created using a special production method. XUXU Ten, the little luxury in a 250 ml aluminium bottle with only 10% alcohol by volume, is dressed to party – it is still relatively new to the market, yet is already at home in all the world’s top party venues.
XUXU can be served in so many different ways: chilled, neat, on crushed ice, as a dessert topping, with sparkling wine or with other mixers – XUXU tastes heavenly and offers fresh and fruity pleasure. Welcome to Berrydise!

Initially the absolute top star in Greece, XUXU is now also number 1 in Russia, and extremely popular in Turkey and Italy too.


XUXU Strawberry & Vodka Drink and XUXU Ten won Gold at the World Spirits Award 2014.