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Gut Schwechow - Fruit from the estate's own plantations

This manor is located 40 kilometres south-west of Schwerin, in the Mecklenburg Elbetal nature park, and has a history dating back hundreds of years. At the start of the 1990s, Gut Schwechow was taken over by beverage entrepreneur Richard Hartinger and re-gained its historic size of around 1,100 hectares through land purchasing. In addition to the agricultural activities which take place here, the site is also home to a fruit distillery, farm shop, training workshop for fruit juice technicians, a fruit must museum and much more to support the positive future development of the company.

Gourmets will find everything their heart desires at the farm shop: speciality sausages and meats from animals reared or hunted on site, freshly caught eels, trout and char from the site's own lakes, fruit jams, preserves and honey, as well as a wide selection of alcohol-free drinks, liqueurs, spirits and brandies. The crowning glory of the range are the Schwechower fruit brandies which are distilled in the first licensed distillery in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The raw materials grow here in one of the oldest fruit-growing regions of Germany. The apple brandy made from three varieties is a regional speciality that comes from the company's own plantations in the Elbtalaue region. Similarly, only the very best home-grown fruits are used for the yellow plum, cherry and prune brandies. The climate in western Mecklenburg is influenced by the Baltic Sea and is characterised by alternating cool nights and warm days which gives the fruit a striking aroma when combined with the long maturing time. Pineapple, banana and carambola from the company's own plantations in Costa Rica add a dose of exotic flavour. Premium products made from rosehip, rowanberry, service tree and wild cherry fall under the "Platinum" label and are sold in hand-blown bottles.

The apple brandies were awarded gold at the World-Spirits Award, as was the sour cherry. The pear and yellow plum brandies received silver, and likewise the blackthorn and sea buckthorn spirits.

Gerührt und geschüttelt: Tradition trifft auf Innovation

Devrim 1923 Raki – Efsun steht für einen zeitgemäßen Zugang zur türkischen Raki-Kultur. Das Geschwister-Start-up aus Köln, gegründet von Bedrana Mani und Selman Mani, verbindet kulturelles Erbe mit modernem Verständnis von Genuss. Nach ersten Sondereditionen ist der Efsun seit April 2025 am Markt, als dauerhaft verfügbare Interpretation der Marke Devrim 1923.Der Name Efsun bedeutet Faszination und Verzauberung und beschreibt die besondere Wirkung, die über den Geschmack hinausgeht und sich aus Rezeptur, Atmosphäre und Moment zusammensetzt. Historisch betrachtet war Raki nie auf eine Aromatik reduziert. Ursprünglich wurde er mit vielen Botanicals hergestellt, regional, kulturell und handwerklich geprägt. Erst spätere Vereinheitlichung und Monopolisierung bewirkte die Reduktion auf Anis und Traube. Devrim 1923 greift den ursprünglichen Gedanken wieder auf. Der Name bedeutet Revolution und ist programmatisch zu verstehen.

Vollzogen wird eine Rückkehr zu den Wurzeln des Raki, interpretiert mit zeitgemäßem Anspruch. Neben Anis und Traube prägen Früchte und Blüten das Profil. Aromen von Granatapfel, Feige, Edelkirsch, Blaubeere, Pistazie, Aprikose, Mandarine und Rose verleihen die vielschichtige, elegante Charakteristik. Die Erweiterung der Botanicals verleiht besondere Leichtigkeit und Vielseitigkeit. Er überzeugt im klassischen Genuss ebenso wie pur, auf Eis oder in Cocktails und Highballs und öffnet Raki für neue Genussmomente, ohne seine kulturelle Herkunft zu verlieren. Mit dem Efsun verfolgen Bedrana und Selman Mani das Ziel, Raki als hochwertige, international anschluss-
fähige Spirituose neu zu denken – als Rückkehr zu seinen Ursprüngen und zugleich als bewusste Revolution im modernen Genussverständnis.

Beim World-Spirits Award gab es Gold für den Devrim 1923 Efsun Raki.

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.

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.