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Alexandrion Group: A big player from Romania

The largest and most successful spirits and wine business in Romania has a comprehensive portfolio with leading brands in all categories as well as traditional Romanian products, which are known nationally and internationally for their quality. Tradition is honoured in the production process that follows their own authentic recipes with the best ingredients.

The Alexandrion Distillery is located in Dealu Mare, in the southern Romanian region of Prahova. 11,000 square metres provide a home to the distillery, filling plant – with a capacity of 40 million litres a year – and packaging area, while underground cellars cover 1,500 square metres with over 3,000 oak barrels and storage areas. 92 employ- ees work in 11 departments to optimise the production process. Modern technology and processes are used and the highest quality is guaranteed. Much has been invested in the purchase of automated, high-tech machinery for the processing, distillation and fermentation of the fruits that are used for the premium spirits. Using a flexible logis- tics model that can handle a complex product portfolio, the distillery counts as one of the most modern and efficient in South-Eastern Europe. With a philosophy of constant technological development and the procurement of new production plants, capacity is constantly being expanded in order to meet growing demands from national and international markets.


At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Brâncoveanu XO, Brâncoveanu VSOP and Kreskova Vodka, and silver for Brâncoveanu VS, Zolmyr Mere and Suman D41.

Wirtshausbrennerei Hans Krenn – Innkeeper and medal collector

Under the banner of ‘pure inn-keeping culture’, Martina Krenn spoils guests with products from this culinary region – authentic Waldviertel specialities and spicy horseradish dishes. And speaking of spice: distiller and brandy sommelier (in one!) Hans Krenn serves his brandies with these dishes. The spirits have won numerous high-calibre national and international awards since 1995. Indeed, a shower of medals is almost the company trademark.

The food and drink are served in the stylish stone pine lounge or guestroom with its tiled stove. In summer, guests can enjoy their meals in the garden. The programme features regular brandy sampling and tasting menus – to our luck there are more than enough peaceful and comfortable areas, including four well equipped gourmet rooms, and a spa area with sauna to ensure guests can indulge in full relaxation. Speaking of pure and clear: Hans Krenn only produces quality fruit brandies made from natural, organically harvested fruits. The majority come from the south of the Waldviertel area; the apricots and quality fruits are mostly from Wachau, while the wild fruit varieties are obtained from fruit traders and the surrounding area. The fruits are then carefully distilled in a copper vessel and subject to ongoing checks in a specially designed wood-fired distillery.

The Master Class Distillery 2022 received gold for Schlehenbrand (sloe brandy), Kriecherlbrand (Mirabelle plum brandy) and Zwetschkenbrand im Eichenfass (damson brandy in an oak barrel), and silver for Kren Gin (horseradish gin), Marillenbrand (apricot brandy), Kaiserholzbirnenbrand (pear brandy) and Rote Williams (pear).

Family of Hounds – Sought and found

Andrea Frigerio and his English wife, Lina, live in Monaco with their two dogs, Spot and Magda, two wonderful additions to the family. Since they started taking the two for walks in town, they have made many new friends. Andrea and Lina used to be red wine drinkers, who spent their holidays in the wine hills of Italy and France. It was only in 2013, while visiting a country estate in England, that they discovered their love for a good G & T. This developed into a passion, and their discussions soon revolved around what it would be like to create their own gin.

They tasted intensively, discarded aromas they didn’t like, and extracted the aromas they did. Together with the master distiller in an old distillery in Piedmont, they created their recipe for the gin: juniper, lemon and orange peel, pink grapefruit, lavender, thyme, cardamom, ginger and coriander. The first three ingredients come from Italy, the rest from Asia. “The juniper is really loud, like a brightly lit disco floor, and the other botanicals dance around it. Together, they are like a lively, attention-seeking dog that can’t sit still.”

In the future, they are looking to establish a small family of spirits, from gin to vodka and from grappa to vermouth – unmistakable in taste, but accessible to everyone. The core of the philosophy is going out with good friends, enjoying a good meal and even better spirits. The first step has already been taken …

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Family of Hounds Gin.

2B Hemp Gin: Styrian gin experience

Two visionaries, Armin Breinl (doctor, drink creator, musician) and Wolfgang Thomann (gin maker), have created a completely new gin experience with real hemp powder: 2B HEMP GIN (inspired by AEIJST). On 17th November 2018, the two invited guests to the first tasting of 2B HEMP GIN in the AEIJST GIN distillery in St. Nikolai in the Sausal Valley.

Made from organic juniper berries, this innovative gin has an impressive, mild and fruity taste and a typical hemp note. Due to its unique aroma, it not only tastes good neat, but also creates a ‘wow’ effect in cocktails – as proven in the long drink Styrian Pale Gin AEIJST refined with 2B HEMP.

For thousands of years, hemp has been grown as a valuable plant, be it for rope, fabric, paper or as an active ingredient in ointments and tinctures. Hemp has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, yet recently has been demonised as an addictive drug and has suffered under its ensuing prohibition, originating in the USA. These days hemp is regaining importance and is being used more as a luxury food as well as in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The Lifestyle Trading company, run by Armin Breinl, is an innovative beverage producer, which is already known amongst trade professionals for its sugar-free ‘func- tional fruit drinks’. The drinks have a high fruit content (more than 50 per cent) and additional natural, vital substances and have an energising, relaxing and regenerative effect.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for 2B HEMP GIN.