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Family of Hounds – Sought and found

Andrea Frigerio and his English wife, Lina, live in Monaco with their two dogs, Spot and Magda, two wonderful additions to the family. Since they started taking the two for walks in town, they have made many new friends. Andrea and Lina used to be red wine drinkers, who spent their holidays in the wine hills of Italy and France. It was only in 2013, while visiting a country estate in England, that they discovered their love for a good G & T. This developed into a passion, and their discussions soon revolved around what it would be like to create their own gin.

They tasted intensively, discarded aromas they didn’t like, and extracted the aromas they did. Together with the master distiller in an old distillery in Piedmont, they created their recipe for the gin: juniper, lemon and orange peel, pink grapefruit, lavender, thyme, cardamom, ginger and coriander. The first three ingredients come from Italy, the rest from Asia. “The juniper is really loud, like a brightly lit disco floor, and the other botanicals dance around it. Together, they are like a lively, attention-seeking dog that can’t sit still.”

In the future, they are looking to establish a small family of spirits, from gin to vodka and from grappa to vermouth – unmistakable in taste, but accessible to everyone. The core of the philosophy is going out with good friends, enjoying a good meal and even better spirits. The first step has already been taken …

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Family of Hounds Gin.

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.

Fairytale Distillery: Gin as an affair of the heart

Thomas Gottwald and his team founded their Fairytale Distillery in 2018 in Ardelve, in the North West Highlands of Scotland, overlooking the lochs in the shadow of the mountains of the Isle of Skye. The heart of the distillery, the copper still, is located in a small witch’s cottage on an island in a pond.

Thomas’ collaboration with German botanists Martin and Stephan was to prove fruitful: within two years, the distillery achieved world-class status in 2020 for its handcrafted, exclusive gins that combine traditional ingredients with a subtle blend of locally available botanicals and herbs. An important component of the process is the use of spring water from the Brand Allt Mor na Dornie mountain stream. The combination of Martin and Stephan’s botanical expertise, Hans-Peter Schmidt’s copper still, Thomas’ attention to detail with the spring water is used to create the filtered and unfiltered gins that continue the success.

Some of the original gins were upgraded to Navy Strength versions; the higher alcohol content significantly improved both the taste and the aroma. Other versions have also been created, such as Classic, Oriental, Floral and Herbal Navy Strength. Two absinthe variants were added to the growing number of gins: the traditional La Fee Verte (green fairy) with an unconventional concept, and the La Fee Noire (black fairy), based on a wonderful recipe from the late 18th century.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, there was Gold for Highland Gin TOM and Navigator 57° 17', and Silver for The Dornie Dram and Highland Gin Infused Gin Red Fairy.

Gans Feinbrand Manufaktur – Sophisticated gin from a well-established production process

In a small village in the March of Brandenburg, there is a quartet enthusiasts with a love for detail at work who want to express their passion for excellent spirits with their own products. It is here that they produce regional products with a special signature, such as GANS Gin. Exotic botanicals from far afield are not used, but twelve ‘unassuming’ local ingredients are used to compose a lively symphony, the notes of which already play a beautiful tune in the nose.

GANS Gin belongs to a young, innovative gin category, the New Western Style, where the focus is not on the juniper, and other aromas are given more room. The fresh, fruity, flowery gin is characterised by a combination of aronia berries, acacia blossom, rosehip, blackberries, oat straw, clover, lemon herbs, and daisies. The juniper unfolds its typical notes in a complex postlude of flavours on the palate.

The alcoholic base is the best farmer’s raw alcohol, produced in Germany using local products. Together with the organic botanicals, it is carefully distilled and then diluted with especially soft water. Distilled in small batches, GANS Gin is a very special boutique spirit for long drinks, cocktails and, above all, pure enjoyment – nothing unusual, just something simply unique.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for GANS Quince Liqueur.