World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Roust Hungary: Affordable luxury on the spirits market

Roust was founded in 1992 by the Russian businessman Roustam Tariko and quickly developed into a leading business group in the sale of premium spirits brands. One of the world’s leading vodka producers, the company is present in more than 80 countries. Roust owns production plants and distribution centres in Hungary, Russia and Italy. The comprehensive portfolio includes the flagship vodka brands of Russian Standard, Green Mark, Parliament and Zhuravli.

Thanks to its extensive knowledge in sales and marketing and its commitment to responsible alcohol consumption, Roust Hungary has become the leading supplier on the domestic spirits market. The largest premium spirits company in Hungary also sells the Royal, Zubrówka, Russian Standard, Gancia, Grants, Jägermeister and Metaxa brands.

For years, Royal Vodka has maintained its position as the most popular and well-known vodka brand in Hungary, and also remains market leader in terms of volume and turnover. Royal Vodka is produced using natural ingredients, from the grain to the well water, which contributes to its mild taste.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Royal Original Vodka, and bronze for Royal Raspberry Liqueur.

Maison Ferrand – A commitment to tradition in more than 60 countries

In 1989, entrepreneur Alexandre Gabriel met the Pierre Ferrand family, one of the oldest cognac-producing families in France. His vision was to produce cognac following traditional methods, with a personal stamp, to emphasise the character of the Grande Champagne region and create a Premier Cru de Cognac. Tradition and passion, excellent locations, professional distillation, precise storage and careful blending set new standards for traditional products.

“A great cognac should reflect its terroir. Above all, good healthy grapes from the best vineyards are needed. Then the wines are carefully distilled on the yeast, and the brandy is left to mature in old barrels for many years. There are no short cuts, but it makes such a heavenly difference and the result tastes so much better that it is worth the effort! At MAISON FERRAND, there has always been a commitment to this level of diligence and patience.”

The production location is the Château de Bonbonnet in Ars, in the department of Charente, in the middle of the vineyards. In the cellars, the various spirits are stored in cognac, port wine, whisky, sauternes or calvados barrels. This ancient ‘double ageing’ procedure yields outstanding quality. Cognac is distilled in winter in ten small copper stills (maximum 25 hl). The characteristic gin is distilled in spring, the rum varieties of the Plantation brand name, which play an important role, come from the Caribbean.

Maison Ferrand is co-owner of the Domaine Logis d’Angeac, a traditional distillery dating back to 1776. It also includes 110 hectares of vineyards at the heart of the Grande Champagne region.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Pierre Ferrand Ambré, Cognac Ferrand 10 Générations, Citadelle No Mistake Old Tom Gin and Plantation Original Dark.

Taunus Gin: Premium Dry Gin from the Taunus

Roland Braza describes his awaking as: “If parallel to the spiritual there is something like an alcoholic con-sciousness, then mine is made of gin. Sunsets where there were none and sunrises you wouldn’t expect. My silent companion in a glass was with me at the bar, next to me in bed in the morning and has enhanced many a balmy summer evening. The initial spark came at a distilling seminar in Austria, which my beloved wife had given me as a Christmas present many years before, and it led to me founding my own distillery. Laborious tests had the aim of creating a gin whose character expresses the naturalness of the Taunus forests. Fortu-nately, it worked!”

His experience as a hunter and the closeness to nature inspired Roland Braza to choose a woody, bitter aro-ma. Natural ingredients from the region are used. The most elementary ingredient is fresh, young spruce shoots which, together with additional organic botanicals and organic alcohol, create an original forest charac-ter. There are now three varieties – the Heritage Edition with the original recipe, the milder and at the same time ‘woodier’ Dark Forest Edition with a delicate hint of lemon balm and an aroma of mountain ash berries, as well as the Premium Dry Gin Golden Oak, which is stored in new oak barrels from Tokaj. All are produced on site in small batches at the Oberursel distillery and carefully bottled by hand.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for TAUNUS DRY GIN Ursel Dark Forest, TAUNUS DRY GIN Ursel Golden Oak and TAUNUS DRY GIN Ursel Heritage.