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Diageo – From London to the whole world

Approximately 33,000 employees are employed worldwide at Diageo, the market leader in premium spirits, with Smirnoff (vodka), Johnnie Walker (whiskey), J&B (Scotch whiskey), Baileys (liqueur), Captain Morgan (rum), Cuervo (tequila) and Tanqueray (gin), Guinness beer and branded wines. Production takes place all around the world: from Great Britain and Ireland, Italy, Spain and Africa, to the USA, Canada, Latin America, Australia, India and the Caribbean. The global corporation emerged in 1997 from the merger between Guinness and GrandMet. 180 markets around the world are handled from its London headquarters.

A lot of work and lots of attention to detail go into creating the in-depth product descriptions on Diageo’s website. Information and analysis is provided about issues ranging from detailed descriptions of the production down to the most minute ingredients. Finally, they are aware of the size of their company and also of their responsibilities as a supplier of alcoholic products. The name Diageo was also deliberately chosen – it represents their agenda. Put together from ‘dia’ (the Latin word for ‘day’) and ‘geo’ (the Greek word for ‘world’), it means that every day people are celebrating all over the world with products from their company. These products open up possibilities never dreamed of for special days and nights, marking special life events and even making the smaller things in life feel magical.

Participation in the World Spirits Award was magical: there was double gold for Tanqueray No. 10 (Spirit of the Year 2016), gold for Gordon’s London Dry Gin and Tanqueray London Dry Gin, as well as silver for Tanqueray Rangpur.

EDMUNDs Liköre: Modern liqueurs following old pharmacy traditions

In the Rats-Apotheke pharmacy in Bötzingen am Kaiserstuhl, Dr. Martin Kullmer produces four herb liqueurs by hand and in small batches. Only the very best raw materials are used, which meet the stringent requirements of the European pharmacopoeia. The enthusiasm for pharmaceutical preci-sion, the love for high-quality spirits and an accidentally discovered recipe for liqueur awakened an unexpected passion for liqueurs in the pharmacist. And so, in autumn 2017, the EDMUNDs brand was founded – in memory of his deceased grandfather, Edmund Dunkel. He was also a passionate phar-macist and principled connoisseur, who impressed his customers with his homemade liqueurs. Based on this traditional recipe, his grandson has developed four new, individual liqueurs to suit modern-day tastes.

The elegant Maranera bitter combines the aromas of aniseed, fennel and coriander with the subtle spiciness of ginger, galangal and cubeb pepper, complemented by the invigorating acerbity from bit-ter orange and wormwood. Krambambuli is a complex liqueur with floral, spicy, fruity and bitter components. The leading role with Kolanitida, an intensively fragrant liqueur, is played by the kola nut. And the powerful Bitterfürst is characterised by tangy herbal notes and spicy sweetness – exciting and impressive.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for EDMUNDs Bitterfürst and EDMUNDs Krambambuli, and silver for EDMUNDs Maranera and EDMUNDs Kolanitida.

Eagles Mountain Distillery: Ostalpen in the Mürzer Oberland nature reserve

For quite some years, Werner and Angela Ultsch have been dedicating themselves to the development of innovative alpine drinks, whereby they attach great importance to protecting nature and supporting the region. Werner Ultsch, a pioneer of Austrian natural cuisine, has many decades of experience not only as a chef in fine gastronomy, but also as a hotelier and project developer in the areas of health and tourism. His culinary understanding has always been closely associated with local agriculture.

In 2022 with the takeover of a traditional distillery in Upper Styria, a further alpine site was added for the brands Alperitif® and Alperitivo®. The basis for their production are medicinal herb cultures in the Tyrolean Wipptal valley, where at 1,350 metres above sea level many thousands of masterwort and angelica plants provide the valuable main raw ingredients for both the alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks. In cooperation with organic farmers, a sustainable and regional raw material supply is ensured.

Experiences from the southern Alpine arc (Alpes-Maritimes) provided the inspiration for supplementing the Alperitif® gin liqueur with the Alperitif® Maritim. In 2023, the product range was widened with the novelty Eagles Bready, whereby the alcohol was distilled from ‘yesterday’s bread’ and refined to a wholesome liqueur for hot drinks with alpine herbs, roots and berry juices stored for many months. In addition, there is the Alperitif® ALPINE GIN cum Imperatoria – a strong masterwort gin with a volume percent of 48.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Alperitif® Maritim and Alperitif® ALPINE GIN cum Imperatoria, and silver to Eagles Bready.