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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.

Mürli GmbH: Regional liqueurs from Mecklenburg

Angelika Wagner-Schnurrbusch and Jörg Schnurrbusch fell in love with the Müritz region in their earliest years. Childhood boat holidays in the lake district eventually led to their new home, where they chose to retire. But this was not enough for the two ‘vibrant, enthusiastic and enthusing elective Müritz locals’. They composed a herb liqueur as a showpiece for the whole region.

Every exciting day in the lake district tends to end with a good dinner, rounded off with a herb liqueur. Standard herb schnapps did not always meet expectations, thus the idea of a high-quality regional product was born. Over two years, recipes were tried out and tested with the help of a distilling master. The aim was a herb liqueur that represents the region, its particularities and diversity. The result is Mürli, where a variety of botanicals – from angelica and gentian, mugwort and vermouth, cinnamon and cloves, along with bitter orange – allow their soothing effect to unfold. The label – black and lime green with a stylised herb fairy – adorns the striking triangular bottles. Marketed from the lake district to the Baltic region, Mürli is appreciated by customers in gastronomy and retailing, as well as their guests and customers. As an alternative to the typical sea buckthorn products, an egg liqueur was also created as a tribute to the region.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Mürli Premium Herb Liqueur, and silver to Mürli Premium Egg Liqueur.

Kaufmann Spirits: Distilled in the mountains

“I’ve always had a passion for distilling schnapps and decided to perfect my skills of the trade by training to be a fine brandy sommelier.” Wolfgang Kaufmann’s first own distillates were first sold in 2014 and are now known and appreciated beyond the borders. Only single-variety fruits of top quality – cultivated naturally, harvested fully mature, selected and washed by hand – are processed into 100% distillates. The ‘aroma of the mountains, distilled in the mountains’ is reflected in Mountain Gin, Mountain Rum and Mountain Whisky. The name stands for its unique and somewhat rough touch – a special highlight among connoisseurs. Furthermore, there are liqueurs and spirits as well as fruit spreads.

In Mühlberg Rem people see themselves as ambassadors of good taste and offer guests a very special place with the first open distillery in Ellmau to look behind the scenes of distilling here. The brandies made here can also be tasted in a relaxed atmosphere whilst their properties are explained. It is especially important to Wolfgang Kaufmann to offer a special experience and to convey traditional drinking culture.

The World Class Distillery 2022 received double gold for Elsbeerbrand (wild serviceberry brandy), gold for Vogelbeere Holzfass (rowanberry from the wooden barrel), Traubenbrand Gelber Muskateller (grape brandy), Johannisbeerbrand (blackcurrant brandy), Mountain Gin, Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Weichselbrand (sour cherry brandy) and Weißbierbrand Holz (beer brandy, wood). Silver was awarded to Brombeerbrand (blackberry brandy) and Vogelbeerbrand (rowanberry brandy).