World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Rhumerie de Chamarel - Rhumerie de Chamarel – A newcomer with vision

This high-quality rum from the island of Mauritius is produced in line with ecological guidelines. The products are distributed in Austria by the company Wind GmbH, based in Traiskirchen (www.wind-plast.at).

The road leads through extensive pineapple plantations and fields of sugar cane up to the distillery at an altitude of 300 m in the South-West of the island. Designed by a renowned architect, the building is elegant and authentic and a fine example of modern construction with its natural materials such as wood, stone and water. The comprehensive concept also incorporates the L’Alchimiste restaurant where up to 80 guests can savour the sophisticated regional cuisine. At the “Sugar Cane Spirit” boutique, various types of rum are on offer (White Rum, Le Coeur de Chauffe (fine brandy), Rum Paille (stored in wooden casks), Rum Arrange (flavoured with fruits and spices) as well as an exclusive clothing range, hand-made products and a small jewellery collection.

The location and climate of the fertile valley promote the growth and quality of the sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested by hand in the early hours of the morning and processed at the mill within four hours. The fields are not normally burnt, as is usually the case, to make harvesting easier. Even when distilling at the highest modern levels of technology, nothing is wasted: the bagasse – the fibrous remnants of the sugar production process – is burnt to obtain energy. The chimney contains the very latest smoke filters and the ash is used to fertilise the fields.

The company yet again impressed at the World-Spirits Award, with one gold and four silvers.

Bonner Manufaktur: Small yet exquisite

The Bonner Manufaktur was born from a dream that originated in 2015 – a dream to produce something unique and handcrafted. Specifically, it was about a spirit, produced with passion and dedication following traditional methods. In the beginning it was the naked GiN, which has since won several national and international awards, joined in 2018 by Mr. Williams pear brandy and Mrs. Williams pear liqueur. The same applies for this pair: quality and tradition are the greatest priorities.

The finest ingredients and gentle distillation methods bring the pear out of its slightly dusty niche, as Daniel Wartacz, founder and ‘number one’ in the company, charmingly remarks. In the sub-Mediterranean climate by Lake Constance, the pears can develop their typical aroma on the tree until the very last moment, before being transformed into liqueur and brandy. What that tastes like can be sampled since 2018 in the Wohnzimmer - drinking office on Bonn’s Theaterstraße, the new home of these spirits and slightly unusual tasting evenings. This combination of shop, event room and office is open on Thursdays and Saturdays for those wanting to stock up on special wine and spirit specialities.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Mrs. Williams – finest Williams Christ pear liqueur, and silver for Mr. Williams – finest Williams Christ pear brandy.

Akakiko Restaurant-Entwicklungs GmbH: Exclusive Asian-style liqueur

With over 30 years of experience, Akakiko is the largest and most successful Japanese restaurant chain in Austria and the best-known brand for Asian gastronomy. When Akakiko was founded in 1994, sushi and pan-Asian cuisine were still something out of the ordinary. The first restaurant in the then newly opened Multiplex Center in Shopping City Süd presented a new gastronomy concept: freshly cooked food with high-quality ingredients, a wide range of specialities and handmade sushi. The new brand appeared under the artificial word Akakiko, which is reminiscent of Japanese. Today, there are 18 branches throughout Austria with a total of 250 employees. Most of them are first or second generation migrants from 15 countries and bring with them different experiences and culinary preferences and expertise. The philosophy is the same in every restaurant: customers can see the cleanliness and hygiene at first hand in numerous open-view kitchens. Fresh ingredients and good products are processed imaginatively. With promotions throughout the year, the focus is always on setting new priorities and surprising guests with new Asian gourmet ideas.

In collaboration with world liqueur champion Gautier-Mückstein, an exclusive Japanese yuzu liqueur was created for the anniversary, combining the refreshing vibrancy of citrus fruits with a sweet surprise.

Yuzucello won gold at the World Spirits Award.