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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.

Diageo India: Single malt with the spirit of the desert

Diageo India, as a subsidiary of the world market leader Diageo, is the leading alcoholic drinks company in the country with a wide portfolio of over 50 spirits brands – old and new, big and small, global and local, in almost every price segment in every category. Each spirit has its own story to tell – of tradition, craftsmanship, innovative production and inspiring design. One of these is Godawan whisky.

It was born in Rajasthan, an area with a flourishing heritage of proud artisans who uphold old traditions and foster a rich culture of art, design, music and architecture. This heritage is also a cornerstone in the production of the single malt – from the grain to the glass – in an exceptional environment. It makes use of the heat in the extreme climate and of local ingredients, to create malts with a great depth of taste. The basis is locally sourced, six-row barley, a crop with a higher protein content, slowly distilled after malting and matured at high temperatures. It is then finalised in special barrels with Indian plant substances, ensuring an authentic taste. The bottle sports a giant bustard, a bird that symbolises the exceptional culture of the region. Once present throughout India, the shrinking habitats are driving the majestic bird to extinction. The last of the remaining 150 birds have found refuge in the rough desert of Rajasthan.

At the World Spirits Award, silver was awarded to Godawan Single Malt Rich and Rounded Artisan Whisky, Godawan Single Malt Fruit and Spice Artisan Whisky.

Krater Spirits: 400 years of tradition in Nördling

In the year 1621, the Alerheim innkeeper Caspar Beck received the entitlement from the ruling count at Oettingen ‘to brew beer and to run a brandy house’. This inheritance was continued by the family and supplemented by a herb liqueur with ginger and peppermint, which was launched on the market in 2013. The name ‘Kraterfeuer’ (Crater Fire) is due to its warming pungency. In 2015, Bavarian Krater Noster Distilled Dry Gin was added, for which wild juniper berries from the wild heath Rieser Heide were used, selected by hand on the edge of the crater that was formed 14 million years ago with the impact of a meteorite.

Since 2020, there is also Full Moon Krater Noster Distilled Dry Gin, a homage to the Apollo astronauts who trained here in 1970 for their voyage to the moon. NASA had sent them to Bavaria to prepare them for their mission in similar geological conditions. The suevite rock in the Ries region was fby that meteorite‘s impact – like the moon craters visible from Earth. Therefore, the Full Moon edition was composed with wild juniper berries from the edge of the crater and beguiling moon plants such as sweet-tart meadowsweet.

Krater Spirits has become a family project involving everyone. Sustainability as forethought for the forthcoming generations is practised in everyday life: the energy for manufacturing the products and heating the buildings comes from renewable sources.

At the World Spirits Award, double gold was awarded to Kraterfeuer, gold to Bavarian Krater Noster Distilled Dry Gin, and silver to Full Moon Krater Noster Distilled Dry Gin.