World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

RG QUADRO SRLS: The joy of mixing – the pleasure of enjoyment

Roberto Gulino has a passion for experimentation and is the founder of La Bodega, a modern cocktail bar in Cosenza, where he has revolutionised the drinking culture. There, night after night, he conveys his beverage philosophy to his guests, bringing the classics of mixology back into focus with just a few aromatic details and refining them with typical Mediterranean flavours. Each of his cocktails is an attractive and exciting sensory experience. His extensive knowledge of the European beverage market is best described by Roberto Gulino himself, and you can read all about it in respected publications such as the Financial Times, GQ, Espresso or Bargiornale.

“I just like mixing, because it’s a synthesis of my world, my passions. It reminds me of my father, of our surname, of Gulliver and his travels. Perhaps this gave rise to the desire to travel around my country and the world, to learn from affinities and differences. I distil, I make liqueurs and I compose cocktails, I am an entrepreneur, but also a barman. I try to convey emotions that glide over the lips, occupy the palate and then burn in the chest. To appreciate a liqueur, a cocktail or a distillate means to indulge in the intoxication of the moment and forget the roar and emptiness of the surroundings as the ice clinks in the glass. To open a bottle is to prepare for the joy of sharing, of sinking preconceptions and of expanding knowledge. People who enjoy a passion for quality can discover new places and revive what they have already seen.”

Amarsud non solo Amaro and Ginsud Convivial Gin won gold at the World Spirits Award.

Steirerbrand: Classic gin from Styria

The Gioia line of the Graz distillery Steirerbrand started with their Styrian Premium Dry Gin. In terms of concept, it is a linear, balanced Dry Gin with a slightly dominant hint of juniper, surrounded by a Mediterranean diversity of aromas. The fine freshness with a fruity-floral finesse is inspired by the Italian way of life and a sense of belonging to the homeland. The noticeable Mediterranean influence in Styria also led to the name: ‘la gioia’, which conveys joy and pleasure, and quite simply puts you in the mood for living!

In the beginning there was a fine wheat brandy, infused with more than 20 selected ingredients, processed through maceration – all homemade and small batch. The decisive factor for the rich aromas is the special blend of juniper berries, apples from southern Styria, limes, lemons, oranges, Java pepper, coriander and others. The high-percentage distillate is reduced to 45% by volume alcohol with clear water low in lime and sodium. Gioia can be drunk neat but is also tasty as a long drink with Indian tonic water.

Gioia Gin was awarded silver at the World Spirits Award.

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).