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Sauerland Distillers: Regional botanicals in distinctive packaging

“The characteristic, woody and lively Sauerland botanicals distilled at Navy Strength (57.15% by vol-ume) turn the best gin we have ever produced into now also the strongest gin we have ever produced. Pure enjoyment with a strong character that lingers on the palate, refines cocktails and puts even the strongest tonic water in its place. Olaf Baumeister, TV chef and owner of Hotel Seegarten in Sundern, designed the recipe to create a balanced gin with the same botanicals, which can be enjoyed straight, as a long drink or in a cocktail.” This is how Managing Director Moritz Dimde, who is responsible for all administrative and financial matters, describes the WOODLAND project.

The artwork for the bottle design and the elaborate packaging comes from fellow partners, Till Brauckmann, Matthias Czech and Gregor Biedrzycki. Andreas Schulte and Johannes Bitter-Suermann take care of distribution and logistics, with each of them contributing their skills and professional ex-perience. Sauerland Distillers GmbH uses local, soft water for distilling. The botanicals are individually cold macerated and then mixed in, unfiltered, after distilling. To intensify the authenticity of the gin, the labels have been reduced to the essentials: a plain, high-quality typography. The gin is filled in 500 ml bottles in the no-frill style of chemist bottles.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Woodland Sauerland Dry Gin (Spirit of the Year & World Spirits Award 2019).

Vijay Distillery Private Limited: Top spirits from Nepal

The Jawalakhel Group of Industries (JGI) manages several companies that produce and distribute alcoholic drinks. Distilleries, breweries as well as research and sales units bring a growing number of brands of different categories to the Nepalese market and for export abroad.

The Vijay Distillery also belongs to the group and is named after the JGI president, Vijay Kumar Shah, who, after studying and working in the USA, returned to Nepal in 1969 and built up the traditional family business from a small distillery to a large company. The foundation was his vision of producing first class spirits with the support of experts and use of modern technology. Since then, JGI has received numerous international accreditations and certifications from various organisations for its high-quality processes, facilities and systems.

The Vijay Distillery in Ramgram in the Parasi district produces a wide range of spirits, including Nepal’s first and only Blended Malt Scotch whisky, brandy and rum. The main brand and flagship is Ruslan Vodka. In line with the philosophy of fine craftsmanship, hand-selected raw materials and the purest Himalayan water are used.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Ruslan Ultra Premium Vodka (Spirit of the Year 2020).