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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.

Edward Snell – Whisky from South Africa

Edward Snell founded a trading company in Durban in 1848, from which the oldest spirit company in South Africa developed over 160 years. Following an eventful history, the company is now once again in the hands of the family. Besides their own brands they also sell numerous local and international drink brands, mostly in various markets in Africa and the Middle East.

The wide range of products includes whisky, brandy, vodka, rum, gin, tequila and cognac. One outstanding label is Firstwatch Whisky with its new look, a striking, square bottle design. Consumer demand for a whisky with an American taste profile has been perfected over time and is presented today as a balanced blend of the finest imported rye and grain. Whether pure, on the rocks or mixed – its diversity makes it popular with many different target groups and successful in one of the largest spirit segments in South Africa.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Firstwatch Whisky.

Die Brau- & Brennwerkstatt: Great taste from the Swabian Forest

The ‘distillery workshop’ in Welzheim is a handcrafted masterpiece, designed and modified especially according to the wishes and requirements of master brewer Mark Schlaipfer. After over 25 years of experience in the industry and many years of distilling fine spirits, he began to produce gin in 2016. The aim is for straightforward and good products with a connection to the region, the Welzheim Forest, as the quality of a gin depends largely on the spices and flavour carriers. With great love for detail the recipes are fine-tuned, fir tree shoots collected and herbs selected. Very deliberately, only small batches are produced, carefully and without rushing – but with lots of love.

After the High Fir Welzheimer Wald Dry Gin, new creations such as the High Fir Summer Edition, High Fir Pimped Peach Gin and Waldfee Liqueur were developed.
The new Barbar London Dry Gin with eleven botanicals is another product with an interesting connection to the region. Welzheim is located at the “Limes”, the frontier wall between the Germanic and Roman empires. Cultural exchange also occurred here, and the cuisine was enriched by both cultures. Thus this gin is a combination of Mediterranean herbs, local spices and fruits such as apple and elderberry. In addition, almost forgotten spices, such as fenugreek seeds, are macerated. The result is a Mediterranean, fruity combination with a peppery sharpness.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Barbar London Dry Gin.

Alexandrion Group: A big player from Romania

The largest and most successful spirits and wine business in Romania has a comprehensive portfolio with leading brands in all categories as well as traditional Romanian products, which are known nationally and internationally for their quality. Tradition is honoured in the production process that follows their own authentic recipes with the best ingredients.

The Alexandrion Distillery is located in Dealu Mare, in the southern Romanian region of Prahova. 11,000 square metres provide a home to the distillery, filling plant – with a capacity of 40 million litres a year – and packaging area, while underground cellars cover 1,500 square metres with over 3,000 oak barrels and storage areas. 92 employ- ees work in 11 departments to optimise the production process. Modern technology and processes are used and the highest quality is guaranteed. Much has been invested in the purchase of automated, high-tech machinery for the processing, distillation and fermentation of the fruits that are used for the premium spirits. Using a flexible logis- tics model that can handle a complex product portfolio, the distillery counts as one of the most modern and efficient in South-Eastern Europe. With a philosophy of constant technological development and the procurement of new production plants, capacity is constantly being expanded in order to meet growing demands from national and international markets.


At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Brâncoveanu XO, Brâncoveanu VSOP and Kreskova Vodka, and silver for Brâncoveanu VS, Zolmyr Mere and Suman D41.