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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.

Jim Beam Distillery – Bourbon straight on

Knob Creek is named after a rivulet in Kentucky, the home of President Abraham Lincoln. His steadfast attitude seems to serve as an example for this straightforward bourbon. The square ‘chemist’s bottle’ suits these traditional values perfectly, as does the striking label which is reminiscent of the old tradition of wrapping bottles in newspaper. To this day, a mixture of experience and craftsmanship is the recipe for success for the bourbon from Knob Creek.

The bourbon was at the peak of its success in 1919, when the nationwide prohibition of the sale, manufacture and transport of alcohol began – lasting until 1933. Following this, a new start was impossible for many distilleries; others couldn’t finance the customary long maturing process of the bourbon. This situation motivated Booker Noe to revive the traditional bourbon style from the time before the prohibition: rich in aroma, with discreet sweetness due to year-long maturation in strongly ‘toasted’ wooden barrels from American white oak. In 1950, he joined the family business – his mother was the daughter of Jim Beam, which meant bourbon was already in his blood – and completed his training as Master Distiller. With the small series of premium bourbon he launched, the term ‘batch’ (small) was established and revolutionised the industry. His son, Fred Noe, continues with this clear strategy: “I learnt the business from scratch, listened to my father and learnt on the job. I know what it means to make perfect bourbon. Each bottle is a reflection of my family.” Since 1992, the Knob Creek brand has represented these values with the perfect combination of tradition and top quality.

A golden trio was successful at the World Spirits Award: Knob Creek Rye Whiskey Small Batch, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon and Knob Creek Straight Bourbon.

Litchquor – Newly defined classics

Gold of Mauritius Dark Rum is a brilliant tribute to the beauty of the island in the Indian Ocean with its multicultural population and their traditions. The production of rum from local sugarcane molasses has a long tradition in Mauritius, dating back to the year 1800. With ‘Gold of Mauritius’, master blender Frederic Bestel wants to express the richness of the island: the breathtaking landscape with distinctive mountain peaks, fertile valleys and beautiful beaches – and the smiles of the people who live there.

The Dark Rum is a blend of various single distillates from the island, refined in an elaborate process which then reaches its harmonious and aromatic flavour after maturing. Only small amounts are produced at one time, monitored personally by the owner. In the production phases, elements and experiences from various sources are employed: for example, the production process from Central America and the barrels from South Africa. This mixture of influences matches the cultural diversity which can be found in Mauritius. Since its entry onto the market in 2014, the ‘new classic of the world of rum’ has achieved wide recognition. Even its bottle reflects how extraordinary the product is: an unusually shaped, heavy glass carafe with elegant gold embossing. Gold of Mauritius Black 48 Edition is an intense version of the classic, with 48% alcohol.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, there was Silver for Heritage Selection Gold of Mauritius Black 48 Edition.

Grasovka: Vodka with the pure mildness of nature

Grasovka, the vodka with the power of bison grass, has been a brand of the Underberg Group since 1976. The special feature of this Polish vodka speciality is based on its flavouring with bison grass, which grows in the Bialowieza National Park on the border between Poland and Belarus. Its excellent quality is also evident from the premium packaging with the embossed bison on every bottle. The modern, fresh look is underlined by the ice-blue cap, a symbol of the cold, clear water of Polish lakes.

The farmers in Bialowieza started flavouring their ‘drop of water’ with this lush grass centuries ago. The bison grass in the forest clearings is harvested by hand in early summer, dried in the sun, bundled together and cut to the right length. Then vodka is poured over the grass several times to acquire an aromatic essence. Following a strictly guarded recipe, this extract is combined with vodka made from grain until the colour, aroma and flavour meet the premium standards. Finally, the vodka is filtered once again and bottled together with a hand-picked stem of bison grass as its typical hallmark. Due to its pleasant, mild taste, this original Polish vodka is mostly enjoyed neat, but can also be used to prepare a number of mixed drinks and cocktails.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Grasovka Bisongrass Vodka.