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Klippenziege: New era in the world of gin

In December 2015, four friends captured the ‘spirit’ of an idea: they were thinking about gin. Nearly a year later a small batch was bottled by hand. The individuality of a gin lies in the combination of the botanicals, in this case it is the exotic selection: mate tea, goji berries, physalis and a hint of rose. The Klippenziege is a New Western Dry Gin, in which juniper plays the main role amongst the other botanicals.

It is produced in the Habbel Distillery, which guarantees excellent quality thanks to its experience – it was established in 1878 and is now in the family’s fourth generation. The former Korn distillery in Sprockhövel with adjoining farmland is now the largest fruit distillery in the Ruhr region, as a traditional manufacturer it stands out with its attention to detail. The entire manufacturing process at Klippenziege can also be observed on-site.

The bottle and the label are also special. Designer Levent Aydin drew it carefully by hand, and then digitalised it before perfecting it. First it is printed, then coated, then stamped and embossed. The elegant result stands for friendship, solidarity and love. Working together in a friendly and familiar atmosphere connects people with a passion for life who share one important belief: that the product should encourage people to slow down, allowing for mindful enjoyment.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Mate Dry 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.

St. Lucia Distillers – The Gold Standard for Rum

“St. Lucia Distillers is small, innovative and focussed on quality”, explains company director Michael Speakman. “Producing premium rum is the core focus of our corporate philosophy, and closely related with it are all other market activities. The members of our team are not afraid of taking risks and we innovate. We like to experiment with the production process and are delighted if this results in the creation of world class products.”

The company was founded in 1972 based on two long-established firms: the Barnard Family Estate in Dennery and Geest in the Roseau Valley, which is now the current site. Back then, the company was a mass producer of basic rum. Over the years, it has developed to become a specialist in premium rum with a comprehensive selection on offer today. Visitors to the St. Lucia Distillers are taken on a journey into the world of rum – ideally as part of a tour. The cultural heritage of this Caribbean island and its traditional rum production are brought to life. From the vats of molasses, which are full of the liquid, aromatic raw material, to the shiny copper tanks and oak casks (Bourbon to Port) to the storage and maturation of the rum.

The World Class Distillery 2018 (Distillery of the Year 2018 – Gold) won double gold for 1931 Sixth Edition (World Spirits Award 2018 & Spirit of the Year 2018), gold for Chairman’s Reserve The Forgotten Cask, Admiral Rodney, Chairman’s Reserve Spiced and Chairman’s Reserve Original Gold.

Badel 1862: Number one on the Croatian market

Badel 1862 is the largest and oldest producer of spirits in Croatia and the market leader in all categories of alcoholic drinks in Croatia, as well as the whole Adriatic region. This accolade testifies to the quality of the products and the preservation of the rich tradition that is also reflected in the name of the company, coupled with innovations that keep pace with new trends. The portfolio comprises more than 100 products, including brandies, liqueurs, gin and vodka.

The flagship of the portfolio and the most widely sold herb liqueur of the Adriatic region is the traditional Pelinkovac. The secret lies in the original manufacturing process: according to an old recipe, in which a selected mix of herbs is crowned by ‘pelin’ (in Latin, Artemisia absinthium). The ‘rising star’ is Antique Pelinkovac, with its recipe from the founding year of 1862. Originally a medicinal drink, today it is part of the traditional gastronomy.

The most widely sold Hrvatska Stara Šljivovica made from the local plum type Bistrica and matured in Slavonian barrels, is a ‘signature drink’ with cult status. The special character of the Badel Hrvatska Stara Šljivovica Premium Selection is defined by a selection of distillates from different barrels. The Badel Prima Brand Black has been appreciated for generations alongside the original recipe for special wine distillates that are matured for 15 years in Slavonian oak barrels.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Badel Prima Brand Black and Badel Pelinkovac Gorki, and silver for Hrvatska Stara Badel Šljivovica, Antique Pelinkovac and Hrvatska Stara Badel Šljivovica Premium Selection.