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Kamill – Top spirits with a golden shine

High quality spirits have been refined at Kamill using a special method since 2009. The core products are vodka, brandy and whisky, but there is also raki and apricot brandy, to which 23 carat gold flakes are added. When it comes to bottling, imagination and creativity are also evident in the 3D label and the unusual bottle shapes. The ‘golden idea’ behind all this: “In the Middle Ages, gold was the symbol for the human heart and the power of God, which is why gold tinctures were used for healing purposes. Research has shown that the structures of this element transport medicines into the body perfectly. So why shouldn’t we also use this for more enjoyable products?”

In the ‘workshop’ at Kamill everything is done by hand. The vodka, for example, is filled into 10 litre canisters and clarified in a four-week procedure (using a special agent made from protein and edible gelatine), whereby the essential oils sink to the bottom. After being filled into other containers, the pure alcohol is brought to -20°C. This mixture is filled into yet another container, so that the remaining essential oils can be removed from the liquid. The final product from these processes is a pure, neutral-tasting vodka which can be further refined. After filtering, edible flakes of gold (E-175) are added and the shiny final product is filled into bottles. ‘Austrian Gold Savran Vodka’ gets its special flair from high quality organic Marchfeld saffron from the Schartner family’s farm.

The ‘treasures’ impressed the judges at the World Spirits Award: they won double gold for Baku, and gold for Oligarch Gold Vodka Saffron and Azerbaijan Gold Vodka.

Brennerei Schulze Rötering: Sophisticated recipes from Münsterland

The picturesque manor in Westphalia surrounded by a moat is run by the 6th generation of the Schulze Rötering family. Alcohol has been artisanally distilled from wheat here with passion since 1767. The most important roles are played by first-class raw materials, especially wheat, from the company’s own fields. Fruits, herbs, spices and fruit juices also play their part in the quality of the distillates, spirits and liqueurs. The soil and the excellent water of the Münsterland Cretaceous Basin are characteristic of this region that produces first-class agricultural products.

Distillation takes place in a specially made facility with an over 19-metre-high, copper rectification plant which is visible from afar. Inside there are 60 bubble cap trays for the complex distillation which is vital for the purity of the alcohol. The mild, aromatic middle run is responsible for around 60 percent of it. The interplay of fine ingredients creates sensory experiences that leave a lasting impression. The later storage of the premium products in old wooden barrels (previously containing red wine, Madeira, Grand Marnier or bourbon) allows the distillates to combine with the aromas of the previous content as well as the wood. Bottling only takes place after a long maturing process.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Münsterländer Doppelkorn, gold for Münsterländer Edelkorn aged in a bourbon barrel 32%, Münsterländer Edelkorn aged in a rum barrel and Wodka N° 1 aged in a Jack Daniel’s barrel, and silver for Wodka N° 2 aged in a brandy barrel.

Stock Polska – Prestige products with history

Polmos Lublin (known today as Stock Polska) was founded by the industrialist Emil Plage in Lublin in 1906 and was able to survive both world wars and the communist state leadership. The company was nationalised in 1948 and re-privatised in 2001. It traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange until 2005 and was sold in 2006. The new owners, Oaktree Capital Management, purchased the spirits division from Eckes Stock in 2007 and thereby laid the foundations for the current Stock Spirits Group. The company has its headquarters in Luxembourg, its service centre in Great Britain and its production sites in the Czech Republic, Italy and Poland.

Stock dates back to the year 1884 when Lionello Stock founded a beverages business in Trieste. He purchased a distillery in 1920 in what is currently part of the Czech Republic with the aim of tapping into new markets. This was followed by distilleries, bottling plants and warehouses in Italy, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia. In the 1920s, Stock was one of the biggest companies of its kind in Europe.

After an absence of 70 years, Stock returned to Poland and began to manufacture at the historic site of Lublin, 150 kilometres south-east of Warsaw. Intensive investment led to the creation of the most modern distillery in Poland and a leadership position on the vodka market. Poland’s most popular flavoured vodka is produced here: Zoladkowa Gorzka.

Lots of Stock products are produced by traditional recipes. These classical brands appeal to connoisseurs all over the world. In return, work is constantly being done on innovations that correspond to modern tastes and new drinking cultures. Quality standards are constantly upheld in both areas, of course.

The quality of the products was recognised at the World Spirits Award with a gold medal for the Orkisz Spelt Vodka.

Roust Hungary: Affordable luxury on the spirits market

Roust was founded in 1992 by the Russian businessman Roustam Tariko and quickly developed into a leading business group in the sale of premium spirits brands. One of the world’s leading vodka producers, the company is present in more than 80 countries. Roust owns production plants and distribution centres in Hungary, Russia and Italy. The comprehensive portfolio includes the flagship vodka brands of Russian Standard, Green Mark, Parliament and Zhuravli.

Thanks to its extensive knowledge in sales and marketing and its commitment to responsible alcohol consumption, Roust Hungary has become the leading supplier on the domestic spirits market. The largest premium spirits company in Hungary also sells the Royal, Zubrówka, Russian Standard, Gancia, Grants, Jägermeister and Metaxa brands.

For years, Royal Vodka has maintained its position as the most popular and well-known vodka brand in Hungary, and also remains market leader in terms of volume and turnover. Royal Vodka is produced using natural ingredients, from the grain to the well water, which contributes to its mild taste.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Royal Original Vodka, and bronze for Royal Raspberry Liqueur.