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.

Georg Hemmeter – XUXU, Escorial, SILLA EL FUERTE

Georg Hemmeter – strawberry drinks with exceptional flavour guaranteed

The name Georg Hemmeter – a company of the Underberg Group – stands for innovative spirits, in particular the XUXU range. The fresh and fruity strawberry drink contains 66 percent fruit plus crystal-clear vodka, rounded off with a dash of lime. The harmony between the sweetness of the fruit and just 15% alcohol by volume is created using a special production method. XUXU Ten, the little luxury in a 250 ml aluminium bottle with only 10% alcohol by volume, is dressed to party – it is still relatively new to the market, yet is already at home in all the world’s top party venues.
XUXU can be served in so many different ways: chilled, neat, on crushed ice, as a dessert topping, with sparkling wine or with other mixers – XUXU tastes heavenly and offers fresh and fruity pleasure. Welcome to Berrydise!

Initially the absolute top star in Greece, XUXU is now also number 1 in Russia, and extremely popular in Turkey and Italy too.


XUXU Strawberry & Vodka Drink and XUXU Ten won Gold at the World Spirits Award 2014.

DISM – A little water from the homeland of the Vikings

In contrast to the long history of the northern islands, the spirits from DISM have only been on the market since 2008. The small, select range comprises four products, which are all based on the extraordinary spring water of the Faroe Islands. Filtered through the basalt mountains, it emerges clear and unpolluted. Once only enjoyed by Vikings and pirates, now occasionally by their descendants …

The man behind DISM is Eidesgaard Erling, a newcomer from the world of the internet. As with all the inhabitants of the archipelago he was used to drinking a welcoming schnapps before dinner. This strong tradition is, however, a contrast to the fact that there was no distillery on the Faroe Islands. The schnapps came from Denmark. And that annoyed him. His response: “I’ll make schnapps myself!” Or to put it better, he sought out a top quality base alcohol (from wheat), and then attended to the blending and bottling.

ELDVATN is the name of the premium vodka, LÍVSINS the traditional, mild aquavit from spring water and herbs, in particular angelica and cumin. HAVIÐ claims the title of ‘The world’s strongest aquavit’ (with 50 volume percent, just as the Vikings would have liked it). The fourth in the set is BARALDUR (= juniper), the special gin, which is said to have healing properties. However, the water is of vital importance, it is what gives the ‘good spirits’ their soul. If you don’t believe it, you should take a look at www.dism.fo – the breathtaking photos speak for themselves and the fascinating islands.

At the World Spirits Award, Livsins Vatn, Baraldur and Eldvatn won gold, Havid silver.

Mosgaard Whisky: Danish whisky in Scottish tradition

Near the southeast coast of the island of Fünen, Gitte and Jes Mosgaard have converted an old farm into a craft distillery. It is their mission to combine taste, design and high-quality organic products from Denmark with a new interpretation of Scottish tradition. And so, an old variety of barley is grown in a national park on the west coast and malted on the farm to ensure the right fruitiness and sweet, malty flavour. The distillation plant was handmade in Portugal according to their own designs. “Thousands of hammer blows have formed raw copper plates to achieve the products’ specific flavour profile – as clean as nature.”

For the fermentation process, the usual double fermentation period is observed to avoid unstable yeast and undesirable aromas. The climate is very important during the maturation period, whereby the nearby coast and clean air have an influence. The wooden barrels are manufactured according to the desired flavour profile. The oak comes from sherry barrels or from large port wine and bourbon barrels. The whiskies are available in two varieties: as a fruity single malt with a clean malt flavour and as a peated version, whereby the barley malt is dried over peat smoke.

In 2018, Mosgaard was named the best Danish distillery and, in 2019, the best Danish whisky distillery. The outlook for exports is good, as organic Danish foodstuffs are highly attractive on international markets.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Single Malt Whisky Peated Bourbon Cask, and silver for Single Malt Whisky Oloroso Cask and Single Malt Whisky Pedro Ximenez Cask.