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Aldi Ireland: Gin and whiskey in retail

Aldi Ireland has several top products in its spirit range: Boyle’s Gin from the Blackwater Distillery and Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery, in addition, Mo Chara Passionfruit & Mango Gin from the Old Carrick Mill.

The Blackwater Distillery has been an Aldi partner since 2016 and developed the private label Boyle’s Gin exclusively for the Irish and British retail market. The product volume of the Blackwater Distillery for Aldi has risen strongly in recent years, whereby 140,800 bottles of the gin series were sold in 2018. The successful gin brand is manufactured in Blackwater Valley, West Waterford, with selected imported ingredients as well as regional apples, blackcurrants and elderflower. CEO Peter Mulryan – former TV producer and author of the book ‘The Whiskeys of Ireland’ – explains, “The partnership with Aldi has helped us to increase turnover enormously, and also to have the security to invest and expand. This includes on-site bottling facilities and a visitor centre.” Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery got its name from the region in County Cork where the malted barley comes from, and is only manufactured in small batches. The business was founded in 2003 by childhood friends who started out with only two small stills they had bought in Switzerland. Now the largest distillery in the country, it currently employs over 80 staff and exports to around 70 countries.

At the World Spirits Award, there was Gold for Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey and Boyle’s Gin, and Silver for Boyle’s Sloe & Damson Gin and Ardfallen Whiskey.

Várda Drink – Hungarian specialist for bitter liqueurs

One of the oldest and largest manufacturers on the Hungarian spirits market is also one of the leading producers in the country due to its broad range of products. The predecessor of the present-day company was founded in 1922 in the northeast-Hungarian town of Kisvárda, was nationalised in 1950 and re-privatised in 1993.

The town gives its name to one of the main products in the diverse product range: Várda Keseru is a liqueur speciality, full of character, pleasantly sweet, bitter and spicy at the same time, made from 34 different herbs and spices. Várda Keseru Szilva is made with plum extract and is matured for some time in wooden barrels. This variety is very popular with traditional sweets – or simply to warm yourself up. In 2017, the company developed a new range of products with the name Hunor, which rounds off the bitter character with fruit tastes such as orange, lime and blueberry.

In Hungary, bitters is the most popular spirit and Várda Keseru one of the most successful traditional specialities, especially in the east of the country – Hungarians swear by the medicinal effect on their health. In 2018, a re-launch of the features is on the cards with more sophisticated labelling and packaging.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Várda Bitter Liqueur, gold for Várda Bitter Plum Liqueur, Hunor Hunters’ Liqueur, and bronze for Hunor Hunters’ Liqueur Lime.

Breckenridge Distillery: Whiskey und mehr aus den Rocky Mountains

Bryan Nolt ist eigentlich Arzt – und Whiskey-Nerd: Im Jahr 2007 hatte ich die Idee, eine Brennerei in Colorado zu gründen. Mit dem Einsatz aller Ersparnisse und dem Verkauf unseres Hauses wagte ich einen kompletten Neuanfang. Heute können wir uns mit gutem Gewissen als erfolgreiche Brennerei betrachten, mit deinem tollen Team und der Hartnäckigkeit eines hungrigen Honigdachses. Und dem Riesenvorteil, einzigartiges, klares Wasser aus den Rocky Mountains für die Produktion nutzen zu können.“

Jordan Via, Master Distiller, bringt die Philosophie auf den Punkt: „Wir wollen hier nichts beweisen oder eine Show abziehen. Wir versuchen, klug und geschickt zu arbeiten, um einfach Qualität und Geschmack zu erzeugen. Während der Sommermonate pressen wir frisches Obst, bevorzugt aus der Region, für unsere Edelbrände, Liköre, Wodkas und Aromastoffe. Übers Jahr destillieren wir Botanicals und kümmern uns um Whiskey und Rum. Die Bourbon-Blends stellen wir in kleinen Chargen zusammen, dafür verwenden wir ausgewählte Fässer aus Kentucky, Tennessee und Indiana.“

Im Jahr 2016 wird die Brennerei erweitert, ein neues Fasslager eingerichtet, dazu kommen eine Cocktail-Bar, Veranstaltungsräume und ein kulinarischer Schwerpunkt zum Thema „Spirits an Food“. Darüber hinaus gibt es einen kleinen Laden in der Innenstadt von Breckenridge. Und kostenlose Brennereiführungen an sieben Tagen der Woche. Klingt eigentlich alles ganz einfach, um Erfolg zu haben, oder?

Beim World-Spirits Award gab es dreimal Gold (Breckenridge Chili Chile Vodka, Breckenridge Vodka, Breckenridge Bourbon) und zweimal Silver (Breckenridge Bitters, Spiced Rum).