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Revolutionary Brands: Secrets of spirited drinks

Vivek Menon, formerly Brand Manager at Aryen Beverages Private, is the Director of the company Revolutionary Brands founded in 2021, well-known in the spirits and wine industry. The spectrum ranges from the procurement of local raw materials to the production of modern labels, and the portfolio comprises wines from around the world, as well as premium spirits from whisky to rum. Two Revolutionary products have exciting stories to tell …

Lucifer’s Gold is a devilishly good drink for people who are not afraid of the unfamiliar. The mix of Scotch grain whisky and Kentucky bourbon is considered prohibited – hence the name. In an old Italian town, a British Scotch drinker and an American bourbon drinker were gambling. They noticed a change in the taste and texture of their drinks. After the game, they asked the barkeeper ‘Lucas’, who admitted to the mix, and they wanted to come back. The next day they were surprised that nobody by this name had ever worked at the bar …

Viva El Ron was a Cuban white rum whose recipe was developed over more than 150 years that everyone loved. The drink did not need a name, it was just called El Ron. One day the barrels were empty, but nobody knew the recipe – El Ron appeared to be lost. Sometime later, a young man found a box full of diaries, with stories spanning generations. The secret of El Ron was scribbled on the margins. He therefore kept trying until he succeeded in restoring the ‘white gold’. Viva El Ron!

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Lucifer’s Gold and Viva El Ron De Cuba.

Appenzeller Alpenbitter AG: An aromatic experience from the Appenzellerland region

In 1902, Emil Ebneter and Beat Kölbener laid the foundation stone for Appenzeller Alpenbitter AG. They developed a natural product of excellent quality and with an incomparable aroma, even recommended as a medicinal product by doctors: Appenzeller Alpenbitter with 42 selected herbs. Only two people from the founding and owning family have access to the recipes and compose the blends for further processing in the herb chamber. The original recipe of the most popular bitter in Switzerland is a well-guarded secret. Appenzeller Alpenbitter AG is an exclusively family-run business even today, founded in 1908 as the cooperative Emil Ebneter & Co. In 2006, it was renamed as Appenzeller Alpenbitter AG as a subsidiary of the Emil Ebneter & Co. AG holding.

Thanks to its consistent quality, as well as accomplished marketing and wide distribution, Appenzeller Alpenbitter has become one of the strongest selling spirits on the Swiss market. The traditional product regularly receives awards – from the Exposition Internationale 1907 in Paris through today. The company values innovation and in recent years has added to the product range with various specialities with a prime focus on quality, care and the use of natural raw ingredients. In addition, Appenzeller Alpenbitter AG manufactures licensed products for international suppliers and is the general representative in Switzerland for other spirits.

At the World Spirits Award, this World Class Distillery 2026 also received the title of Distillery of the Year Gold with an Award and Gold for Abbacella Apéritif Orange, Kuuhl Minz, Amarno - Amaro Alpino, GIN 27 Appenzell Dry Gin, Appenzeller Alpenbitter and GIN 27 WOODFIRE Appenzell Glow Gin, and Silver for GIN 27 SOUL OF WOOD Appenzell Old Tom Gin and Tschinscha Ginger Liqueur.

Schwarze & Schlichte – Brand personalities from Westphalia

The family business Schwarze & Schlichte from Westphalia has been representing the highest quality spirits for the last 345 years with a distinct range of national specialities, regional traditional brands and successful international innovations. This top quality is based on a distilling tradition acquired over centuries which has been passed down over twelve generations. Even today, distilling and maceration still take place at the company’s own distillery where plenty of time and skill are invested. The selection and processing of the best raw materials and continuous control of the production process ensure a consistently high quality. One factor for success is the ongoing brand management in accordance with the specific requirements of the various brand personalities.

Three Sixty Vodka is one of the purest and mildest vodkas in the world. A fourfold distillation process ensures tangible softness and exceptional clarity while the purity of the vodka is all down to the time-consuming “Diamond Filtration” process: the finest filters are used, set with crystals like diamond dust, to remove even the smallest of suspended particles from the distillate. Even the packaging is unique: the facet-cut bottle of pure white shiny glass sets off this premium vodka to perfection. A black velvet label completes the sophisticated design.

The Grappa Bianca from Scavi & Ray is characterised by its full-bodied balanced flavour with powerful and intense aromas of marc. This crystal-clear brandy is soft and deliciously balanced thanks to the exquisite skill of the master distillery. The intense and fruity aroma is reminiscent of the sun-soaked vineyards in Italy.

Both products received a silver medal at the World-Spirits.

Ehrenwert GmbH: One recipe – two families

One recipe – two families. Each family has its own carefully guarded secret recipe, and with the Lücke family this remained in the hands of grandfather Heinz and later his son Dieter for many decades. Long enough, thought sons Thomas and Christian. In any case, it is the ‘Felsenfeuer’ herb liqueur that once made the Lücke Distillery one of the most important in Münsterland. After the war they continued the success story which first began in the 18th century, with this herb liqueur, using the recipe that Heinz Lücke worked out. In the 1950s everyone was talking about it, but in the 1960s the era of the distillery and the herb liqueur ended. But not for good – 60 years later it celebrated its resurrection with the ‘Freudenfeuer’.

Whilst searching for a distillery, Thomas and Christian kept to family tradition, as their grandmother was a Sasse, and the Sasses’ fine distillery in Schöppingen is still well known today. Following a traditional recipe from 1947 the new liqueur is distilled in small batches and is bottled by hand after a ten-day rest period. Ready to enjoy: neat and ice cold like in the time of our grandfathers, or smoother, on ice with lightly pressed orange zest, or as a basis for a long drink with tonic water or ginger ale. To old times and new friends!

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Freudenfeuer.