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Aumaxum: Fruity variety produced in Hungary

“It’s more than just a brandy. I see it as my mission to present and promote a culture of quality consumption,” says Anita Zámbó, managing director of Aumaxum, where spirits are produced under the brand name Gong. The family business is located in the town of Deszk near Szeged. In 2017, following more than 20 years’ work in public administration of the district, she founded the distillery together with her husband. “It was a great change and challenge. I want to show that I can survive as a businesswoman! Feedback is important to us, which is why we like to take part in competitions,” she says.

When purchasing raw materials it is important that the fruit comes from the region, so that the local character of the products is reinforced. The fruit comes from their own orchards, gardens and woodland, and also from small farms in the surrounding area. Currently about 20 brandies are produced, including specialities from berries and wild fruits. But special attention is also paid to the distillates made from grapes and grape pomace from Tokaj. Visitors can follow the distilling process in the open distillery, and professional tastings and team-building events for companies with specially prepared dishes are also organised.

The First Class Distillery received gold for Hárslevel?u szo?lo? pálinka, Zéta szo?lo? pálinka and Gong Hunor Gin, and silver for Birs pálinka, Vadcseresznye pálinka, Cserszegi f?uszeres szo?lo? pálinka, Furmint szo?lo? pálinka, Aszúsepr?u párlat, Gong Gin 21 and Muskotály szo?lo? pálinka.

Hödl Hof: Quality for generations since 1542

Alfred Dunst has been running the family business since 1993. His greatest passion is product development. “For me, the skill of distillation is an art form when it is carried out with experience and love. Inspiration is offered by nature that surrounds us. We see it as our duty to only produce our specialities with natural, high-quality ingredients that are carefully selected. We want to provide our customers with the same pleasure in drinking it as we have in making it,” he says.

45 hectares of organically farmed orchards and woodlands provide the raw materials for distillation, wood for heating, as well as for some of the storage barrels and, in addition, ingredients for the products, such as fir tips, wild fruit, mushrooms, roots, etc. Soft water with a low mineral content comes from their own spring in the protected area of the Rabenwaldkogel. Double distillation is carried out in copper vats following an old Styrian tradition. Only the ‘heart’ is extracted and matured in wood, glass or stainless steel.

As a special customer service, the product range is also available in 20 ml bottles. So it is possible to get an idea of the whole range or organise a tasting at home. For over 25 years, an informative schnapps trail has led through the orchards and woodlands, informing visitors about the various fruits, and the manufacture and storage of the products.

The World Class Distillery 2021 (Distillery of the Year 2021 – Bronze) received double gold for Stone Vodka (Spirit of the Year 2021), gold for Stone Red, The Original 1542 Old Classic, Troad Single Cask, Blended Single Malt Whisky and Stone Oak Vodka, and silver for The Original 1542 London Dry Gin Old Oak and Hödl Hof Feuerholz.

LA SU Gin: Exotic holiday feeling in a glass

Alexander Kayser and Christopher Schuh are true gin lovers and founders of the brand LA SU Gin – a registered brand of Expo Outline Messebau und Event GmbH in Altenstadt, with Alexander Kayser as the managing partner.

After exploring many trains of thought, it was clear to both of them that it had to be exotic. LA SU Gin is a premium handcrafted gin with a hint of fruity mango. Distilled in small batches, traditionally and without additives, it is made in one of the oldest distilleries in Europe. The mango gives it a special freshness and balances the tart notes of the spices perfectly. Next to the mango, LA SU evokes a sense of travel. Enjoy a holiday feeling and discover new taste sensations. The elaborate bottle design reflects a love of detail and certainly leaves an impression.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was achieved by LA SU *MGO* Natural Mango.

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.