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Clint Wilfred & Sons – Good taste for rapidly expanding markets

Clint Wilfred & Sons Ltd brings a carefully selected portfolio of drinks to the Gulf region and Southeast Asia. The young company targets fast-moving products in the HORECA – Hotel/Restaurant/Café and Hotel/Restaurant/Catering market segment. It is run by Clint Wilfred, whose family has been in the spirit production and distribution business for over four decades.

One main focus of business activities lies in the United Arab Emirates. To offer new products on this rapidly growing market is a great challenge, as the demand for premium and niche products is constantly increasing and customers’ wishes are very diverse. The range, therefore, also includes non-alcoholic and carbonated soft drinks, still and sparkling water, ready-to-drink teas, energy sport drinks and other New Age drinks. There is also a strong focus on a wide selection of packaging sizes and formats.

One special product in the spirits product category is Count Cristo Blended Scotch Whisky, a premium blend with a high malt content from the Scottish Speyside region and with some lowland malt for added depth and character.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Count Cristo Blended Scotch Whisky.

Bimmerle: Know-how meets regionality and trend awareness

At the production site in the Black Forest town of Sasbach, which was opened in 2015, this family business sets innovative standards in technology, sustainability and environmental protection. For the last five decades, Bimmerle has strived for the highest quality, with focussed know-how, modern high-tech and the traditional art of distilling. This is the first distillery in Germany where all the heating requirements and power generation are covered by the burning of fruit stones combined with woodchips from the region.

In Germany and on the European market, Bimmerle is a leader in the fruit brandies sector with the Lörch brand. In order to make the ‘playground’ more interesting, the brand identity was modernised in 2024 and will be extended in 2025 by a fruit brandy range matured in wooden casks. Needle Black Forest Gin is among the top 5 most widely sold gins in Germany. The portfolio has been expanded since 2018 with WOOD STORK Spiced Rum and the EVERMANN Black Forest whiskies Theo & Wilhelm introduced in 2022. The Black Forest distillery has enriched the liqueur and aperitif market with as many as five exciting creations under the DON PASQUALE brand.

The World Class Distillery 2025 & Distillery of the Year 2025 – Bronze (Bitters & Liqueurs) received Gold for Don Pasquale Limoncello Liqueur, Zünftler Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Wood Stork Spiced Rum, Lörch Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Lörch Vanillekipferl Sahnelikör (vanilla cream liqueur), Needle Gin Green, Don Pasquale Aperitif Bitter Liqueur, Don Pasquale Espresso Martini Liqueur, Don Pasquale Hazelnut Liqueur and Lörch Linzertorte Sahnelikör (Linzer tart cream liqueur). Silver was awarded to Kronenhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Zinselhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Altes Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser (damson spirit), Needle Blackforest Distilled Dry Gin, Needle Gin Rosé, Don Pasquale Pistachio Cream Liqueur, Lörch Bratapfel Sahnelikör (baked apple cream liqueur), Zünftler Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Lörch Williams Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (pear spirit aged in a wooden cask) and Lörch Marille Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (apricot spirit aged in a wooden cask), and Bronze to Lörch Obst Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (fruit spirit aged in a wooden cask).

Cognac Tesseron – A continuation of tradition

Châteauneuf-sur-Charente is home to a real treasure: a collection of rare cognacs from the 19th century. The company was founded in 1905 by Abel Tesseron with one site in Grande Champagne (Boneuil) and another in Petite Champagne (Saint-Surin). Today, the company tradition is continued by Alfred Tesseron, the third generation manager who has deep roots in cognac-making. He grew up in France and worked in America before making Château Pontet-Canetone of the most successful Grands Crus in the Médoc region.

Henri Colcombet, the director of the company, has been developing luxury brands within a competitive field for the last 15 years. His passion for top products and his instinct for premium marketing are key elements in the success of this family business. Melanie Tesseron (4th generation) is the International Brand Manager and adds a touch of feminine flair to this world of cognac. She is highly skilled in communications. The company’s VIP customers include Harrods, Lafayette Gourmet, Globus Switzerland, Dallmayr Germany and Sherry Lehman NY.

The traditional grape varieties grow in the company’s own vineyards. The grapes are harvested early to produce an acidic base wine of just 8 % vol. alcohol. Distilling takes place from 1 October to 31 March of the following year. The maturation process takes place in cool, damp 13th century cellars which were once the crypt of the local church. The young “eaux-de-vie” are stored in limousine oak barrels before the “Maître de Chai” composes a delicate blend using three varieties: Ugni Blanc for a rounded tone, Folle Blanche for finesse and Colombard for depth.

The company secured three golds at the World Spirits Award: for Lot N° 76 XO Tradition, Lot N° 53 XO Perfection and Lot N° 29 XO Exception, of which there are only 3,000 bottles worldwide.

Ditta Bortolo Nardini – Passion for an Italian icon

The oldest distillery in Italy was founded in Bassano del Grappa in 1779 and is now being run in the seventh generation of the Nardini family: Angelo, Antonio, Cristina and Leonardo. They continue the family tradition and are dedicated to an Italian icon – grappa. Distillation takes place at two locations, Bassano and Monastier, whereby in Bassano there is also steel tank storage for white grappa products and a cellar with over 500 barrels made from Slavonian oak for the maturation of the Grappa Riserva. A team of experts in an in-house laboratory oversees the entire work process, thus guaranteeing the highest quality standards.

For grappa production, grape marc from mainly local, typical grape varieties is selected. Quality control begins with the harvest and, 24 hours at the latest after pressing, the marc is delivered to the distillery. Here it is stored in air-tight containers to guarantee the high quality of the distillate. Despite the size of the company, there is a strong focus on traditional distilling methods, with the goal of constant improvement. Speaking of tradition: the distillery is a member of ‘Les Henokiens’, an exclusive, international club of about 50 family businesses, which are at least 200 years old.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Acqua di Cedro, Selezione Bortolo Nardini 7 y.o., and silver for Mandorla, Selezione Bortolo Nardini 15 y.o. and Amaro.