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Evan Williams – Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey with tradition

Evan Williams founded the first commercial distillery in Kentucky in 1783. He was unable to sell his rich cereal harvest due to transport routes and so decided to use the corn to distil whiskey instead. This was easier to transport and the local water, which flows over limestone ground, gives the whiskey its characteristic flavour. Production is based on a traditional recipe including all the details specific to a small distillery. Evan Williams today owns the Heaven Hill Distilleries, the biggest family-owned distillery in the USA which was founded in the 1930s. It offers a wide range of products such as American whiskey, rum, tequila, vodka, gin, brandy, cognac, etc. and is exported to 60 countries worldwide.

The classic ‘Black Label’, the second strongest bourbon in the world, matures for three times longer than is legally required. Combined with the higher alcohol content, an intensive, full and soft flavour emerges. ‘Evan Williams 1783’ is bottled after 10 years of ageing in a limited selection of casks. The ‘Single Barrel’ comes from one single cask with the number and filling date added to the bottle by hand. It is left to mature in white oak casks on the top shelves of the warehouse. Significant temperature fluctuations mean that the flavour varies from cask to cask. The Elijah Craig 12 Y is left to mature for 12 years in American holm oak casks and only 100 casks are filled each year. The company namesake lived during the 18th century and invented the Kentucky Bourbon. Legend states that he burnt down the barn in which his casks were stored. The whiskeys therefore aged more quickly and acquired a special aroma and colour.

Elijah Craig performed well at the World Spirits Award (double gold). There was also gold for the rest: Evan Williams Black Label, Evan Williams 1783 and Evan Williams Single Barrel.

Giovanni Dri and His Grappa - Children of the Mountains

"As the best of the vintners in his region, Giovanni Dri is someone I hold in high regard for his Ramandolo - fruity and honest, full in character and racy." This praise from Luigi Veronelli for the sweet wine Ramandolo from the indigeneous grape variety of Verduzzo can also be applied to the grappa variety. The grapes thrive at the foothills of the wine-growing area in the extensive DOC Colli Orientali del Friuli area in the province of Udine. The vineyards are located on steep southern slopes, protected by the 1,700 meter-high Monte Bernadia.
From a small plot of land with virtually impassable vineyards and an old cellar, Giovanni Dri has since 1968 developed one of the most acclaimed estates in Friaul. He is an ambitious, headstrong entrepreneur - and a passionate dreamer. "I believe in the strength of vineyards with their simple and honest fruit, because they bring the sensation of those things under the heavens which are allowing me to dream." His products are also like this - simply expressive.
"I don't want any complicated technology - I am led by tradition. My wife inspires and supports me, while my children are the joy of the future." That is reflected in the simple architecture which allows enough space for the slow maturing of the products. Due to this, it is only after three years that the Grappa Ramandolo comes onto the market: unique and very individual, fresh and fruity (distillation takes place just a short time after harvesting, which guarantees its purity), with typical aromas of almonds and other nuts, and an almost austere, heavy sweetness, however very refined and concentrated. One simply has to like it and likes it more with every sip. The jury at the World-Spirits Award also liked it - and awarded it with a gold medal.

Family of Hounds – Sought and found

Andrea Frigerio and his English wife, Lina, live in Monaco with their two dogs, Spot and Magda, two wonderful additions to the family. Since they started taking the two for walks in town, they have made many new friends. Andrea and Lina used to be red wine drinkers, who spent their holidays in the wine hills of Italy and France. It was only in 2013, while visiting a country estate in England, that they discovered their love for a good G & T. This developed into a passion, and their discussions soon revolved around what it would be like to create their own gin.

They tasted intensively, discarded aromas they didn’t like, and extracted the aromas they did. Together with the master distiller in an old distillery in Piedmont, they created their recipe for the gin: juniper, lemon and orange peel, pink grapefruit, lavender, thyme, cardamom, ginger and coriander. The first three ingredients come from Italy, the rest from Asia. “The juniper is really loud, like a brightly lit disco floor, and the other botanicals dance around it. Together, they are like a lively, attention-seeking dog that can’t sit still.”

In the future, they are looking to establish a small family of spirits, from gin to vodka and from grappa to vermouth – unmistakable in taste, but accessible to everyone. The core of the philosophy is going out with good friends, enjoying a good meal and even better spirits. The first step has already been taken …

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Family of Hounds Gin.