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Pernod Ricard: 200 years of Beefeater

Pernod Ricard was founded in 1975 through the merger of Ricard and Pernod and has developed steadily through organic growth and acquisitions. One of the most renowned portfolios in the sector is present on over 70 markets worldwide – including 19 brands among the world’s top 100.

Beefeater is the most prize-winning gin brand and the only classic gin that is distilled in London. The first seat of the brand, the Chelsea Distillery, was built in 1820 and bought in 1863 by James Burrough. The first Dry Gin in the London style was made there, and became known worldwide as Beefeater. The recipe has remained practically unchanged to this day, tried and tested by the master distiller Desmond Payne. Beefeater Dry is the world’s leading premium gin, Beefeater 24 is a super premium gin with Japanese and Chinese teas catering to the trends of contemporary cocktail culture. The range is rounded off by Beefeater Pink Strawberry, Beefeater Blood Orange and Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve, a handmade gin from an oak barrel.

The new bottle design – timeless and high-quality – evokes historical London brick. It brings together established and modern elements, as well as sustainability: the bottle is 100% recyclable, the plastic top is replaced by an aluminium cap, saving 410 tons of plastic a year.

Gold was awarded to Beefeater 24 and silver to Beefeater London Dry at the World Spirits Award.

Darauf einen Hüpperling: Organic vodka for wholesome enjoyment

The production focuses on wholesomeness and excellent quality, all hand-crafted, without artificial additives, only with traditional distilling skills and regional ingredients such as the finest wheat and the purest primary rock spring water from a Natura 2000 European nature reserve. The wheat for ‘DEH’ comes from fields in Biberbach at the heart of the Mostviertel region and is organically certified. It is shredded and carefully processed into a mash, fermented for 72 hours and then distilled 60-fold in a column still to achieve the required purity. Only the ‘core’ is refined for the vodka. After a rest phase for the 96% alcohol, the distillate is reduced to drinking strength with granite water. This is followed by at least a year of storage until the balance and mildness have been achieved.

Destillerie Farthofer in Öhling in the Amstetten district of the Mostviertel in Lower Austria is responsible for the production. The retailer and trademark owner is Frank Hüpperling from Berlin, an architect and drummer. During a band rehearsal with his music band B3+, the ‘DEH’ idea was born and then created together with Josef Farthofer in 2020. The trademark has been registered under his name since 2020 at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. He has been certified as an organic retailer since 2021. And this is how he himself speaks of his organic vodka: “Quality doesn’t need ice. Mixing, cutting and icing are completely unnecessary here. This vodka is enjoyed pure and at room temperature (18 – 20°C), because the best quality doesn’t need any frost. Only then does its full glory come into its own.”

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to DEH Darauf einen Hüpperling.