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Kiuchi Brewing and Distilling: Authentic products with a long tradition

The Kiuchi sake brewery was founded in 1823 in the city of Naka in Ibaraki Prefecture. High-quality ingredients and great craftsmanship have been used for generations. When Mikio Kiuchi took over the brewery in the 1950s, the sake industry, like the rest of the economy, was growing rapidly, flooding the market with mass-produced goods. However, Kiuchi stuck to its high-end philosophy, the trademark of the company since its foundation. The family seized the opportunity of entering the craft beer market, buying equipment from abroad and incorporating their sake brewing experience into beer production. The whiskey business was launched in 2016, and the ‘Hinomaru Whiskey’ and ‘Hinomaru Gin’ brands were created to mark the anniversary year 2023.

Traditions have been passed on and refined in the search for authentic sake brewing. An old community centre was renovated and became the new location of the brewery and distillery. This is a meeting place where people from the area gather and chat as they used to, and can now also enjoy a whiskey. In addition to a tour and a tasting corner, there is also a popular restaurant.

At the World Spirits Award, the First Class Distillery received gold for Hinomaru Gin Craft, Kiuchi rice shochu Ginka edition, silver for Kikusakari Awashizuku Sparkling Sake Vintage 2008, Hinomaru Whiskey Sakura Cask aged 6 years, Hinomaru Whiskey SAKURA blended, Hinomaru Whiskey Signature 1823, Hinomaru whisky The 1st barrels, and bronze for Hinomaru whisky sherry cask 6 years.

LACASCARA: Premium aperitif made of the ‘cáscara’

This special product was created on the base of cáscara, grapefruit and raspberries. The Spanish name means ‘skin’, referring specifically to the skin of the red coffee berry. Centuries ago, cáscara was dried on coffee farms and drunk as tea; in modern coffee production, the pulp and skin remain unused – this could potentially create a mountain of around ten million tons of cáscara. It only gained approval as a novel food in 2022. Its use in this aperitif also has a social aspect, as coffee farms receive much-needed additional income.

Behind LACASCARA are Lisah Dietrich, who worked in marketing for many years, and Constantin Müller, owner of an advertising film agency and a camera rental company, and also a lecturer at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences. They source the highest quality cáscara from Colombia and Peru from farms that have left cooperatives to market their own coffee. During the season, the best ripe coffee berries are picked by hand in 4 harvests, before being sorted and dried in the sun for over 40 days. The liqueur is then produced by hand in a small distillery, without artificial additives. Caffeine is only present in small amounts; one glass contains only one to two percent of the caffeine contained in a litre of cola. The taste of cáscara is reminiscent of rosehip, pomegranate and spicy honey. Perfect as a spritz, with tonic water, neat, or on the rocks. With a balance of fruitiness and a slight bitter note, a new, natural taste experience has been created that also meets the needs of an entire generation for high quality, sustainability and naturalness.

LACASCARA Premium Aperitivo won silver at the World Spirits Award.

MBG International Premium Brands – Brands with added value

“We Love Liquids.” This slogan has accompanied MBG on its worldwide path of success since it was founded in 1993 under the name P.O.S. Marketing + Vertrieb GmbH: Strong brands have been established around the world in nearly 60 countries, with innovative own brands, renowned retail brands, great ideas and a lot of energy. With over 250 employees, the MBG Group currently generates over € 200 million and, every year, more than a million hectolitres are produced. The portfolio in Germany includes 12 own brands and 6 retail brands (from non-alcoholic drinks to low proof drinks to wines & spirits) for 90,000 customers.

“Our recipe for successful brands is the mixture of passion, conviction and knowledge of the market. If all goes well, names and products become new worlds which consumers love. Success is not always predictable, which means that courage is needed above all. The right moment has to be found and hard work put in, just like with a hit single: some are one hit wonders while others become classics.” Little can be added to this definition from Managing Director Andreas W. Herb. From the MBG Group headquarters in Paderborn, a great deal of expertise makes successful brands, tailored to the respective target group and the market segment. Many brands that are well known on shop shelves and in the gastronomy sector have played a role in the history of the company.

Participation in the World Spirits Award yielded gold for Dos Mas Nasty Nuts Shot.