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Clara Hof Destillerie: A distillery in maritime surroundings

With the opening of the distillery in spring 2015, a lifetime dream came true for the passionate master distiller – and also nutritionist, brewer and maltster – Andreas Michelsen alongside his wife Tanja. Amidst original, maritime surroundings in a top location in Eckernförd’s old town harbour, this lovingly run home of fine spirits and liqueurs enriches the Baltic resort with handmade spirits. These are sold in the special atmosphere of the rear courtyard – the Clara yards.

The creations are based on old Nordic specialities just as much as on modern distillates from around the world. Experience and an eye for detail are the strong foundation, supported by natural ingredients, where possible organically cultivated. Premium spirits are manufactured from carefully selected herbs and other ingredients. The use of hand-picked Labrador tea in Scandinavia, through which the distillates gain their characteristic rough edges, is particularly special. Labrador tea enriches gin, aquavit and aniseed herb, and can be found at 100 percent in a mild bitter.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Erdbeergeist gereift im Sherry-Fass (strawberry spirit matured in a sherry cask).

Plomari Ouzo Distillery Isidoros Arvanitis: Original ouzo from Lesvos

Plomari on Lesvos is known as the home of ouzo, as the location of the island, the sea and the fertile soil offer local producers the best conditions for making ouzo with a special quality. In 1894, Isidoros Arvanitis combined these ingredients with herbs which he had gathered from all around the world in a copper still. The famous recipe for Ouzo of Plomari Isidoros Arvanitis, current market leader in Greece, was born.

The present-day distillery is located amidst a beautiful olive grove in picturesque Plomari, the village where ouzo has been produced for more than 125 years. The remarkable increase in export activity made the relocation to this larger plant necessary, where traditional distillation and production along with modern bottle filling and packaging take place. Today, Plomari Ouzo exports more than 76% of its production.

Their traditional way of distillation in small, handmade copper vats for nine hours and the high-quality, local ingredients, combined with the top secret recipe, give the Ouzo of Plomari its characteristic aroma. The recipe brings together the ideal ingredient proportions: soft water from the sources of the Sedounta river in Plomari, of course aniseed from Lisvori (which is considered the best in the world), fennel, star aniseed, cinnamon, nutmeg and mastic extract from Chios, a selection of herbs from Lesvos and salt from the salt marshes of Kalloni. Still today, this delicate yet rich delight is filled in a traditional bottle with typical corks.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, Gold was awarded to Ouzo of Plomari Isidoros Arvanitis.

Kweichow Moutai: China’s ‘national schnapps’ on the rise

Baijiu is the most popular alcoholic drink in China and Moutai the most famous brand, with a similar status to vodka in Russia or tequila in Mexico. Its origins go back over 2,000 years to the time of Emperor Wu of Han. These days, the national drink is frequently served at official state banquets and is used as the official state gift. Its protected source is the village of Maotai in the Guizhou province on the banks of the Chishui, the Red River. These days, more than 30,000 tons of the 53 percent alcohol Moutai are produced. In cooperation with Camus, a limited edition was launched as an homage to the greatest poets: after Li Bai in 2013, Du Fu followed in 2018. The elegant bottle showing a painting of a poem is made from the finest porcelain.

Traditional methods are used for the distillation of regional raw materials: organic sorghum and wheat and the best water. Fermentation takes place at high temperatures. During the production process, which takes a year, fresh grain is added twice to the boilers, then several boiling and fermentation processes take place. Every batch of the distillate is separated according to age, production cycle and aroma. It then matures slowly in terracotta containers and, during the storage period of at least five years, develops a fine soya aroma. Master blenders make sure that the characteristic, full flavour is preserved. The secret lies in the humid climate, the water from the Chishui, as well as in the distillation technique and maturing period.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Kweichou Moutai Du Fu Edition.

Stock Polska – Prestige products with history

Polmos Lublin (known today as Stock Polska) was founded by the industrialist Emil Plage in Lublin in 1906 and was able to survive both world wars and the communist state leadership. The company was nationalised in 1948 and re-privatised in 2001. It traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange until 2005 and was sold in 2006. The new owners, Oaktree Capital Management, purchased the spirits division from Eckes Stock in 2007 and thereby laid the foundations for the current Stock Spirits Group. The company has its headquarters in Luxembourg, its service centre in Great Britain and its production sites in the Czech Republic, Italy and Poland.

Stock dates back to the year 1884 when Lionello Stock founded a beverages business in Trieste. He purchased a distillery in 1920 in what is currently part of the Czech Republic with the aim of tapping into new markets. This was followed by distilleries, bottling plants and warehouses in Italy, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia. In the 1920s, Stock was one of the biggest companies of its kind in Europe.

After an absence of 70 years, Stock returned to Poland and began to manufacture at the historic site of Lublin, 150 kilometres south-east of Warsaw. Intensive investment led to the creation of the most modern distillery in Poland and a leadership position on the vodka market. Poland’s most popular flavoured vodka is produced here: Zoladkowa Gorzka.

Lots of Stock products are produced by traditional recipes. These classical brands appeal to connoisseurs all over the world. In return, work is constantly being done on innovations that correspond to modern tastes and new drinking cultures. Quality standards are constantly upheld in both areas, of course.

The quality of the products was recognised at the World Spirits Award with a gold medal for the Orkisz Spelt Vodka.