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Krugmann Markenspirituosen: Tradition meets Zeitgeist

This traditional spirit manufacturer’s roots go all the way back to the century before last. When the Krugmann family founded the distillery on their farm in 1867 it was the first business in Meinerzhagen. Entrepreneurship and commercial spirit united with farm heritage to create something new. For six generations, the company was family-run, and since the mid-1990s it has been run by a management team which meets the changing market with innovative ideas.

The handcrafted art of distilling was always the top priority at Krugmann, building on the knowledge, experi-ence and passion of the distillers trained within the company. In the development of new spirits, tradition meets zeitgeist. Strictly guarded recipes are the foundation for many specialities. These are accompanied by the passion for experimentation to create new taste experiences. The result is a wide range of products with over 200 spirits, which also stand out thanks to their bottle design.

Preserving what has been tried and tested whilst exploring new paths in product development is also re-flected in the new products from the ‘Premium Enjoyment’ series: three barrel-matured Korn specialities and a gin which reflects the company’s skills in having worked with juniper for over 150 years.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Korn Cognac Barrel and Gin 150.

Revolutionary Brands: Secrets of spirited drinks

Vivek Menon, formerly Brand Manager at Aryen Beverages Private, is the Director of the company Revolutionary Brands founded in 2021, well-known in the spirits and wine industry. The spectrum ranges from the procurement of local raw materials to the production of modern labels, and the portfolio comprises wines from around the world, as well as premium spirits from whisky to rum. Two Revolutionary products have exciting stories to tell …

Lucifer’s Gold is a devilishly good drink for people who are not afraid of the unfamiliar. The mix of Scotch grain whisky and Kentucky bourbon is considered prohibited – hence the name. In an old Italian town, a British Scotch drinker and an American bourbon drinker were gambling. They noticed a change in the taste and texture of their drinks. After the game, they asked the barkeeper ‘Lucas’, who admitted to the mix, and they wanted to come back. The next day they were surprised that nobody by this name had ever worked at the bar …

Viva El Ron was a Cuban white rum whose recipe was developed over more than 150 years that everyone loved. The drink did not need a name, it was just called El Ron. One day the barrels were empty, but nobody knew the recipe – El Ron appeared to be lost. Sometime later, a young man found a box full of diaries, with stories spanning generations. The secret of El Ron was scribbled on the margins. He therefore kept trying until he succeeded in restoring the ‘white gold’. Viva El Ron!

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Lucifer’s Gold and Viva El Ron De Cuba.

Limomacher: Regionally produced – socially labelled

Limomacher is a young Bregenz enterprise, according to their own definition “excellent in graphics, design, customer service, lemonade production, social involvement and coffee drinking”. However, a look at the brief biographies of the four-person team reveals quite a bit about their wide-ranging qualifications. All lemonades are produced regionally in Vorarlberg according to their own recipes. Short pathways right up until labelling – also labels for private customers and companies on request – reinforce sustainability, along with filling exclusively in glass bottles. The labelling, as well as the whole warehousing, are handled by Lebenshilfe Vorarlberg, a support organisation for people with disabilities. This is an indication that social thinking has been of great importance from the beginning.

At the beginning of 2018, the ‘Franz von Durst’ brand started in Spar shops, followed by the start-up shelf at Metro. The company developed a gin along with a tonic water for this purpose, as the first manufacturer in retailing that offers both as a one-stop shop. The gin that is also regionally produced goes perfectly with the tonic water and its animating and aromatic concept offers an exceptionally fruity drinking experience. Aside from the juniper base, five further botanicals play a role: angelica root provides a slight tanginess and supports the homogenous taste; orange peel is characterised by a range of aromatic substances and a fine hint of citrus; liquorice provides a complex sweetness with a slightly earthy note; elderberry has an intensive and refreshing taste; and hops gives it a special something.

“We are delighted that the Vorarlberg locals have received our gin so well and that we can expand step by step also into other provinces,” say the two young entrepreneurs.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was achieved by Franz von Durst Gin, and silver by Franz von Durst Dry Gin Wild.