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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.

2B Hemp Gin: Styrian gin experience

Two visionaries, Armin Breinl (doctor, drink creator, musician) and Wolfgang Thomann (gin maker), have created a completely new gin experience with real hemp powder: 2B HEMP GIN (inspired by AEIJST). On 17th November 2018, the two invited guests to the first tasting of 2B HEMP GIN in the AEIJST GIN distillery in St. Nikolai in the Sausal Valley.

Made from organic juniper berries, this innovative gin has an impressive, mild and fruity taste and a typical hemp note. Due to its unique aroma, it not only tastes good neat, but also creates a ‘wow’ effect in cocktails – as proven in the long drink Styrian Pale Gin AEIJST refined with 2B HEMP.

For thousands of years, hemp has been grown as a valuable plant, be it for rope, fabric, paper or as an active ingredient in ointments and tinctures. Hemp has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, yet recently has been demonised as an addictive drug and has suffered under its ensuing prohibition, originating in the USA. These days hemp is regaining importance and is being used more as a luxury food as well as in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The Lifestyle Trading company, run by Armin Breinl, is an innovative beverage producer, which is already known amongst trade professionals for its sugar-free ‘func- tional fruit drinks’. The drinks have a high fruit content (more than 50 per cent) and additional natural, vital substances and have an energising, relaxing and regenerative effect.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for 2B HEMP GIN.

Gyulai Pálinka – A manufactory on historic soil

The first distillery was founded in 1731 in the city of Gyula: Baron Johannes Georg Harruckern of Upper Austria received the area as a gift from the Kaiser following his military career. The Baron brought German settlers to the area and promoted agriculture, trade and industry. Based on this long-standing tradition and supported by the latest technologies, the Gyulaer Palinka Manufaktúra has been developing here since 2008: the first series of distillates bears the name of Baron Harruckern and the design skilfully combines the past and future.

The master distillers aim to produce top quality in manageable quantities. The raw materials are top-quality fruits which are selected and washed by hand, ranging from traditional varieties to woodland and wild fruits. The importance of fruit brandy in the region is emphasised by the large spring festival with its Hungarian state-wide Pálinka competition.

The town of Gyula in the country of Békés at the gateway to Transylvania has plenty on offer for tourists, including its historical atmosphere with its brick castle and one of the most beautiful thermal baths in the region. Around a million visitors come to these healing springs each year and some of them also sample the soothing effects of a genuine Pálinka!

The products also impressed at the World-Spirits Award: gold and the title of “Best in Category” for the blackberry, gold for the quince and seven silver medals for various fruit brandies. This resulted in a ranking of 3rd place overall in the fruit brandy category as a “Distillery of the Year” (bronze) and classification as a “World-Class Distillery”.

Herman Jansen Beverages: A global player for genever, gin, and more

Genever, a predecessor of gin, has been produced for centuries in the southern Dutch city of Schiedam near Rotterdam. This is where Peter Jansen founded his distillery in 1777. Following an eventful history and several mergers, the business has grown into a global network. Today, the family company is run by Diederik Jansen in its seventh generation. Craftsmanship, quality and innovation still set trends. The master distiller, two product developers and three beverage manufacturers make up the core team who together have more than a hundred years of experience.

Herman Jansen is an expert in the development and production of spirits and related products and uses his know-how to offer custom solutions. Sustainable partnerships are pursued, whereby in business to business the full-service approach pays off – both sides benefit from the 240 years of experience in distillation and years of knowledge of the market. The wide selection of modern products ranges from local specialities like Dutch genever, Friesian bitters and liqueurs to international rums and a wide range of vodka and gin brands.

As a representative of the cult drink genever, which can hold its own against the popular gin wave through constant effort and striving for a contemporary adaptation, the company received the World Spirits Award 2022 for lifetime achievement. Gold was awarded to Herman Jansen Master Distiller's Choice 2013.