World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Fleret Fruit – Fruitiness from the Czech orchard

Fleret is a recognised manufacturer of a broad range of fruit distillates such as damson schnapps, Williams pear schnapps, pear schnapps, apricot schnapps or cherry liqueur. More than 500,000 bottles a year are produced in Frenštát pod Radhoštem in North Moravia. The product range includes over 40 different products with an alcohol content between 30 and 50% vol. On the international market, the company established itself with the premium line, which also brought them awards at the renowned World Spirits Competition in San Francisco and International Spirits Challenge in Great Britain. In 2013, the company started with a range of redesigned distillates, with the aim of improving awareness of the products on the market.

Brauerei Hirt: A passion for the authentic

The Hirt private brewery sees itself primarily as a Pils beer brewery, but has also produced exceptional beer brandies since 1998.

Only special beers are used to create the Braumeisterbrand brandy, and pure brewed beer is used for the mashing process and is distilled in a column distillery. The fruity aroma develops after a long time in storage. The Zigarrenbrand cigar brandy is stored in French oak barriques following the distillation process, where it is left to mature for over five years.

The Hirter GenussAkademie offers a demanding range of courses – for amateur brewers as well as for top catering professionals, seminars on pairing beer with various foods, and certified beer sommelier courses. 16 speciality beers are produced in Hirt, which include the Privat Pils based on an old Bohemian recipe, the dark Morchl, the malty 1270, and the non-alcoholic Freigeist.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Hirter Braumeisterbrand and Hirter Zigarrenbrand.

Schwarze & Schlichte – Brand personalities from Westphalia

The family business Schwarze & Schlichte from Westphalia has been representing the highest quality spirits for the last 345 years with a distinct range of national specialities, regional traditional brands and successful international innovations. This top quality is based on a distilling tradition acquired over centuries which has been passed down over twelve generations. Even today, distilling and maceration still take place at the company’s own distillery where plenty of time and skill are invested. The selection and processing of the best raw materials and continuous control of the production process ensure a consistently high quality. One factor for success is the ongoing brand management in accordance with the specific requirements of the various brand personalities.

Three Sixty Vodka is one of the purest and mildest vodkas in the world. A fourfold distillation process ensures tangible softness and exceptional clarity while the purity of the vodka is all down to the time-consuming “Diamond Filtration” process: the finest filters are used, set with crystals like diamond dust, to remove even the smallest of suspended particles from the distillate. Even the packaging is unique: the facet-cut bottle of pure white shiny glass sets off this premium vodka to perfection. A black velvet label completes the sophisticated design.

The Grappa Bianca from Scavi & Ray is characterised by its full-bodied balanced flavour with powerful and intense aromas of marc. This crystal-clear brandy is soft and deliciously balanced thanks to the exquisite skill of the master distillery. The intense and fruity aroma is reminiscent of the sun-soaked vineyards in Italy.

Both products received a silver medal at the World-Spirits.

Rhumerie de Chamarel - Rhumerie de Chamarel – A newcomer with vision

This high-quality rum from the island of Mauritius is produced in line with ecological guidelines. The products are distributed in Austria by the company Wind GmbH, based in Traiskirchen (www.wind-plast.at).

The road leads through extensive pineapple plantations and fields of sugar cane up to the distillery at an altitude of 300 m in the South-West of the island. Designed by a renowned architect, the building is elegant and authentic and a fine example of modern construction with its natural materials such as wood, stone and water. The comprehensive concept also incorporates the L’Alchimiste restaurant where up to 80 guests can savour the sophisticated regional cuisine. At the “Sugar Cane Spirit” boutique, various types of rum are on offer (White Rum, Le Coeur de Chauffe (fine brandy), Rum Paille (stored in wooden casks), Rum Arrange (flavoured with fruits and spices) as well as an exclusive clothing range, hand-made products and a small jewellery collection.

The location and climate of the fertile valley promote the growth and quality of the sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested by hand in the early hours of the morning and processed at the mill within four hours. The fields are not normally burnt, as is usually the case, to make harvesting easier. Even when distilling at the highest modern levels of technology, nothing is wasted: the bagasse – the fibrous remnants of the sugar production process – is burnt to obtain energy. The chimney contains the very latest smoke filters and the ash is used to fertilise the fields.

The company yet again impressed at the World-Spirits Award, with one gold and four silvers.