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Jim Beam Distillery – Bourbon straight on

Knob Creek is named after a rivulet in Kentucky, the home of President Abraham Lincoln. His steadfast attitude seems to serve as an example for this straightforward bourbon. The square ‘chemist’s bottle’ suits these traditional values perfectly, as does the striking label which is reminiscent of the old tradition of wrapping bottles in newspaper. To this day, a mixture of experience and craftsmanship is the recipe for success for the bourbon from Knob Creek.

The bourbon was at the peak of its success in 1919, when the nationwide prohibition of the sale, manufacture and transport of alcohol began – lasting until 1933. Following this, a new start was impossible for many distilleries; others couldn’t finance the customary long maturing process of the bourbon. This situation motivated Booker Noe to revive the traditional bourbon style from the time before the prohibition: rich in aroma, with discreet sweetness due to year-long maturation in strongly ‘toasted’ wooden barrels from American white oak. In 1950, he joined the family business – his mother was the daughter of Jim Beam, which meant bourbon was already in his blood – and completed his training as Master Distiller. With the small series of premium bourbon he launched, the term ‘batch’ (small) was established and revolutionised the industry. His son, Fred Noe, continues with this clear strategy: “I learnt the business from scratch, listened to my father and learnt on the job. I know what it means to make perfect bourbon. Each bottle is a reflection of my family.” Since 1992, the Knob Creek brand has represented these values with the perfect combination of tradition and top quality.

A golden trio was successful at the World Spirits Award: Knob Creek Rye Whiskey Small Batch, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon and Knob Creek Straight Bourbon.

Kornbrennerei H. Heydt – An awareness of tradition and trends

The medium-sized family business was founded in 1860 in Haselünne, which is in Emsland in Northern Germany, an area which lives from agriculture, grazing and forestry. The home distillery developed into an important business over the generations. Grain has always been the base, and over the years the product range has been continually improved and expanded. Wheat distillate was reinterpreted to make this forgotten kind more accessible again to consumers. The grain distillate, which is distilled in their own distillery, matures over several years in carefully selected wooden barrels. Hubert Heydt is a member of the fourth generation of the family to run the business and he has always looked ahead, just like the company’s founder: “We still have lots to do! Our barrel storage cellar has many a treasure ready for our customers.”

The portfolio includes traditional brands from the clear spirits category, herb liqueurs, light fruit spirits and vodka-based contemporary brands. The product philosophy is focused on the further development of existing products by taking over traditional brands that are well-known. The ‘Steinhäger’ is one such product. Heydt has, however, also established new trends with its own brands; the ‘light power products’ are a success story in themselves. Limited editions are marketed under the ‘Heydt Manufaktur’ label.

At the World Spirits Award, there was a haul of six gold awards and one silver.

Sash & Fritz – German vodka with a Russian soul

The ‘maker behind the brand’ is the well-known sommelier and wine merchant Peter Steger. During his more than 25 year-long career, he became interested in spirits and discovered his love of vodka – and so he formed the idea of creating an exclusive German vodka brand. Sash & Fritz combines Russian tradition with German precision and perfection. Only the best, carefully selected ingredients, such as 100% German wheat and clear spring water from the German Ore Mountains, are used in an elaborate production process (5 careful distillations and 5 gentle filterings) to create a manufactured vodka of the highest quality. The special, high quality flint glass bottle is particularly transparent and translucent, and was exclusively designed for the company.

The story behind the name: Sash stands for Alexander I Pavlovich Romanov, Emperor of Russia from 1801 to 1825, and Fritz for Frederick William III, King of Prussia from 1797. Theirs was a heartfelt friendship that lasted all their lives and went beyond the family relationship that existed between the Romanov and Hohenzollern families. The Russian Alexandrowka colony in Potsdam, which still exists today, dates back to the 1826 edict by King ‘Fritz’ on which it was founded in remembrance of his friend ‘Sash’ who had died a year before.

The concept bore fruit: the German vodka was awarded gold by the jury at the World Spirits Award.