World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Schwarze & Schlichte – Brand personalities from Westphalia

The family business Schwarze & Schlichte from Westphalia has been representing the highest quality spirits for the last 345 years with a distinct range of national specialities, regional traditional brands and successful international innovations. This top quality is based on a distilling tradition acquired over centuries which has been passed down over twelve generations. Even today, distilling and maceration still take place at the company’s own distillery where plenty of time and skill are invested. The selection and processing of the best raw materials and continuous control of the production process ensure a consistently high quality. One factor for success is the ongoing brand management in accordance with the specific requirements of the various brand personalities.

Three Sixty Vodka is one of the purest and mildest vodkas in the world. A fourfold distillation process ensures tangible softness and exceptional clarity while the purity of the vodka is all down to the time-consuming “Diamond Filtration” process: the finest filters are used, set with crystals like diamond dust, to remove even the smallest of suspended particles from the distillate. Even the packaging is unique: the facet-cut bottle of pure white shiny glass sets off this premium vodka to perfection. A black velvet label completes the sophisticated design.

The Grappa Bianca from Scavi & Ray is characterised by its full-bodied balanced flavour with powerful and intense aromas of marc. This crystal-clear brandy is soft and deliciously balanced thanks to the exquisite skill of the master distillery. The intense and fruity aroma is reminiscent of the sun-soaked vineyards in Italy.

Both products received a silver medal at the World-Spirits.

Christoph Kössler – Perfection, profile and personality

He is always among the best when it comes to distillate ratings and has been confirming his consistency for many years at the World Spirits Award. He achieves perfection in the ‘interplay with temperatures’ – from the fermentation of the mash in the stainless steel tanks to distillation using the most advanced technical methods. And all this takes place in exceptional surroundings: Christoph Kössler works and lives with his family in the house where famous Baroque master builder Jakob Prandtauer was born. The old building has been carefully preserved and the interiors adjusted to the requirements of a modern company. The initials ‘JP’ on the bottles are a clear link to the tradition of the company.

The friendly distiller from Tyrol manufactures over 40 products covering all fruit varieties, as well as 10 liqueurs. When asked for the secret of his many years of success, he simply says: “Like fruit, like spirit.” The broad range of exclusive spirits with refined flavours proves him right: the range extends from apples, pears and berries to grapes, wild fruit and plums, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes and beer.

Since 1450, damsons have been farmed in the Alpine village of Stanz near Landeck in Tyrol, Europe’s highest fruit growing region. In 2005, a so-called ‘indulgence region’ was created in honour of the local damsons. The community has somewhat more than 650 inhabitants, approx.150 households and 54 distilleries where 90 distillers produce all kinds of quality brandies. This density alone warrants the name of ‘distillery village’.

The company’s ongoing quality strategy bore fruit yet again at the World Spirits Award with classification as a World Class Distillery 2013 and gold for the Spenling plum, red Williams pear, bock beer, Bier Eichenfass (oak barrel beer) and Gerste Eiche (oak barley) and silver for the cherry.

KWV Brandy continued its great legacy in 2023

The roots of locally produced brandy on South African shores can be traced back to 1672. KWV Brandy has developed into a well-known name that has symbolised stability, quality and values for generations. With meticulous double distillation in copper stills and maturation in pristine French oak barrels, they always strive for perfection. The fascinating selection of brandies is a sensory journey of discovery that begins with the three-year-old KWV and continues with the nuances of KWV 5, 10, 12, 15, and crowned by the exquisite KWV 20.

Brandy, liquid history in a glass, tells of tradition, craftsmanship and enjoyable times. KWV Brandy stands for a century of consistent commitment by pioneering thinkers, visionary producers and entrepreneurial leaders, as well as for its remarkable versatility as a leading, multi-award-winning company. Since the first international award in 1981, its position in the brandy arena has been reconfirmed time and again. In 2022, KWV Brandy was honoured as the best brandy producer in the world at the prestigious International Spirits Challenge (ISC) under the leadership of renowned Master Distiller Pieter de Bod. KWV is synonymous with brandy in South Africa. With unwavering support from the wider KWV family, they eagerly look forward to another century of excellence.

The Master Class Distillery 2024 received gold for KWV 20, KWV 15, KWV 10, KWV 5, KWV 3, Imagin Classic, Imagin Citrus and Wild Africa Cream, silver for KWV 12 and KWV VS, and bronze for Cruxland Black Winter Truffle and Cruxland Kalahari Truffle.