World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

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.

Likörfabrik Busch – Glass factory for Killepitsch and Co

Through the glass facade you can watch live as the Düsseldorf Killepitsch herb schnapps is made. 24 hours, day after day – and illuminated at night. “We planned from the beginning that there would be something exciting to see from the outside”, company boss Peter Busch says about his ‘bottle parade’. The herb schnapps has been around for 60 years, the liqueur factory since 1858, previously for many years in the Old Town, until due to a lack of space it was moved to the Medienhafen harbour. Two things were important during planning stage: the production as a presentation and energy efficiency, which is why the new building is six stories high. On 5,500 square metres there are two filling lines, one of which is fully automated.

The classic Killepitsch contains essences from 98 herbs, berries and fruits from all over the world, such as caraway, gentian root and bitter orange. The ingredients are mixed together in liquid form and matured for six weeks at 20 degrees in 20 stainless steel tanks, which hold around 700,000 litres; then the schnapps is stored for a year in old clay pots. As well as this ‘genuine Düsseldorf speciality’, Gin Pitsch Düsseldorf Dry Gin is produced, which is characterised by 18 natural botanicals and citrus fruits. The designer bottle shows the imposing Düsseldorf skyline. The third of the Düsseldorf trio is Applepitsch, a fruity liqueur made from citrus fruit distillates and the juice of untreated apples, gently combined with Vodkapitsch.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Ginpitsch and Killepitsch, silver for Applepitsch.

OKEN: First fine brandy made from acorns

OKEN is a true original. The first fine brandy made from acorns is a finely filtered, regional spirit made with 100% natural ingredients without additives. It was three friends from the Ostetal Valley in Sittensen in Lower Saxony who came up with the idea. Their fascination with the topic of how many fruits and plants can be used to make alcohol gave rise to the exciting question: “How about oak? The characteristic tree of the northern German landscape. In the past, coffee and bread were made from acorns, so why not a fine spirit today?”

It took the three inventors Niklas Haller, Michael Frankenbach and Leonard Spreckels three years. What started in a little pot in grandma’s kitchen improved constantly over time, until they were sure they had found the right recipe. But this was where the actual work started before launching the first acorn schnapps on the market in summer 2020. Sales began as a crowdfunding campaign on the start-up platform Startnext and was immediately well-received. In the meantime, OKEN is available in selected regional shops and gastronomic establishments in northern Germany.

100% natural ingredients and authentic manual work give OKEN its individual character: hints of fruit from sweet Mirabelle plums and a grainy taste evocative of light wood, a pleasantly warm sensation in the mouth, accompanied by a gentle pinch of peppermint. Served at room temperature, it is a fine digestif. OKEN is also available in a small 10 cl bottle for sampling.

At the World Spirits Award, silver was awarded to the spirit made from acorns.