World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

MBG International Premium Brands – Brands with added value

“We Love Liquids.” This slogan has accompanied MBG on its worldwide path of success since it was founded in 1993 under the name P.O.S. Marketing + Vertrieb GmbH: Strong brands have been established around the world in nearly 60 countries, with innovative own brands, renowned retail brands, great ideas and a lot of energy. With over 250 employees, the MBG Group currently generates over € 200 million and, every year, more than a million hectolitres are produced. The portfolio in Germany includes 12 own brands and 6 retail brands (from non-alcoholic drinks to low proof drinks to wines & spirits) for 90,000 customers.

“Our recipe for successful brands is the mixture of passion, conviction and knowledge of the market. If all goes well, names and products become new worlds which consumers love. Success is not always predictable, which means that courage is needed above all. The right moment has to be found and hard work put in, just like with a hit single: some are one hit wonders while others become classics.” Little can be added to this definition from Managing Director Andreas W. Herb. From the MBG Group headquarters in Paderborn, a great deal of expertise makes successful brands, tailored to the respective target group and the market segment. Many brands that are well known on shop shelves and in the gastronomy sector have played a role in the history of the company.

Participation in the World Spirits Award yielded gold for Dos Mas Nasty Nuts Shot.

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.

Denis Duhme and Christian Leopolder: 3137 Vertical Limit London Dry Premium Gin

Two friends have fulfilled an unusual dream. Christian Leopolder has a small distillery in Kuchl near Salzburg. Denis Duhme trains sommeliers and sommelières in retail and gastronomy. The idea for an ‘extreme’ gin was born during a joint mountain hike, the basis of which is more than 30 self-collected botanicals from the mountains in Austria and South Tyrol up to 3,137 metres above sea level – hence the name. And because the Northern Alps are naturally different from the Southern Alps, two different gins were created. Distillation takes place in a small copper still in several stages. The result is a purist London Dry Gin with highly complex aromas and enormous length on the palate – handpicked & handcrafted – small batch distilled.

Nordalpen (Northern Alps) Gin has a spicy, herbal character. In addition to wild thyme, basil, rosemary, bay leaf and black pepper, masterwort and mountain pine are also present. Rowanberry, larch blossom and Swiss stone pine round off the interplay of aromas. Südalpen (Southern Alps) Gin has a Mediterranean-mountainous character and brings this sun-drenched region (with over 300 days of sunshine) to life. Amalfi lemon, white elderberry and mountain peach from South Tyrol form the basis. Liquorice, lavender and orange peel as well as sage, chestnut and acacia blossom, combined with pink pepper and olive, complete the complex aroma.

At the World Spirits Award, Gold was awarded to both 3137 Vertical Limit London Dry Premium Südalpen Gin and 3137 Vertical Limit London Dry Premium Nordalpen Gin.

Kweichow Moutai – China’s ‘national schnapps’ on the rise

Moutai is the most popular alcoholic drink in China and enjoys a similar status to vodka in Russia or tequila in Mexico. Its origins go back over 2,000 years to the time of Emperor Wu of Han. These days, the national drink is served at all official state banquets and is used as the official state gift. Its protected source is the village of Maotai in the southwest of the Guizhou province on the banks of the Chishui, the Red River. Maotai was connected to the road network just short of 30 years ago, which meant that the port became less important. Schnapps production, however, went through the roof. These days, 25,000 tons of the 53 percent alcohol is produced – with enormous increases, year for year.

Traditional methods are used for the distillation of regional raw materials: Johnson grass, wheat and water. Fermentation takes place at high temperatures. During the production process, which takes nearly a year, fresh grain is added twice to the boilers, then boiling and fermentation processes take place. During the many years of storage, a fine soya aroma develops. Master blenders make sure that the characteristic, full flavour is preserved. The secret lies in the humid climate, the water from the Chishui, and also in the distillation technique.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for KWEICHOW MOUTAI – Legendary China Collection, Dufu Edition.