World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

myAlps: ISEL°GIN: Premium product from the Alps

This Premium Mountain Gin made in East Tyrol has been produced since 2017 by Marcel Steiner, Michael Obwexer and distiller Josef Berger. The idea behind it was to put a regional premium product on the market that went with the times yet also stood out on the vast premium gin market.

With this handmade product, all botanicals are prepared and processed by hand. The gin is distilled according to old traditions with a 100-year-old furnace, hand-fired with various types of wood, on 85-year-old Josef Berger’s farm. Uncompromising quality without additives or artificial aromas has been the philosophy here for over 60 years. All bottles are filled, and each label stuck on, by hand.

For this Alpine-Mediterranean gin, the geographical location of East Tyrol, to the south of the Alps and near the Italian border, offered quite a bit of potential for the best ingredients. Organic oranges and organic limes from Friuli, cranberries from Tyrol, native stone pine and mountain thyme give the ‘blue’ ISEL°GIN Klassik its fine aroma with a lighter juniper note. Since 2018, the ISEL°GIN BLACK EDITION has been available for friends of classic gin. Plenty of juniper, black pepper, lemongrass, rosemary and chokeberries provide a wide range of aromas and a bit more power – a perfect alternative to the classic. Production takes place in small quantities of no more than 100 litres or 200 bottles per month. Customers include bars and hotels, and it is delivered to many European countries. The fact that most customers order time and again is a good sign of their approval.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for ISEL°GIN BLACK EDITION, and bronze for ISEL°GIN KLASSIK.

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.

Georg Hemmeter – XUXU, Escorial, SILLA EL FUERTE

Georg Hemmeter – strawberry drinks with exceptional flavour guaranteed

The name Georg Hemmeter – a company of the Underberg Group – stands for innovative spirits, in particular the XUXU range. The fresh and fruity strawberry drink contains 66 percent fruit plus crystal-clear vodka, rounded off with a dash of lime. The harmony between the sweetness of the fruit and just 15% alcohol by volume is created using a special production method. XUXU Ten, the little luxury in a 250 ml aluminium bottle with only 10% alcohol by volume, is dressed to party – it is still relatively new to the market, yet is already at home in all the world’s top party venues.
XUXU can be served in so many different ways: chilled, neat, on crushed ice, as a dessert topping, with sparkling wine or with other mixers – XUXU tastes heavenly and offers fresh and fruity pleasure. Welcome to Berrydise!

Initially the absolute top star in Greece, XUXU is now also number 1 in Russia, and extremely popular in Turkey and Italy too.


XUXU Strawberry & Vodka Drink and XUXU Ten won Gold at the World Spirits Award 2014.

2B Hemp Gin: Styrian gin experience

Two visionaries, Armin Breinl (doctor, drink creator, musician) and Wolfgang Thomann (gin maker), have created a completely new gin experience with real hemp powder: 2B HEMP GIN (inspired by AEIJST). On 17th November 2018, the two invited guests to the first tasting of 2B HEMP GIN in the AEIJST GIN distillery in St. Nikolai in the Sausal Valley.

Made from organic juniper berries, this innovative gin has an impressive, mild and fruity taste and a typical hemp note. Due to its unique aroma, it not only tastes good neat, but also creates a ‘wow’ effect in cocktails – as proven in the long drink Styrian Pale Gin AEIJST refined with 2B HEMP.

For thousands of years, hemp has been grown as a valuable plant, be it for rope, fabric, paper or as an active ingredient in ointments and tinctures. Hemp has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, yet recently has been demonised as an addictive drug and has suffered under its ensuing prohibition, originating in the USA. These days hemp is regaining importance and is being used more as a luxury food as well as in medicine as a therapeutic agent.

The Lifestyle Trading company, run by Armin Breinl, is an innovative beverage producer, which is already known amongst trade professionals for its sugar-free ‘func- tional fruit drinks’. The drinks have a high fruit content (more than 50 per cent) and additional natural, vital substances and have an energising, relaxing and regenerative effect.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for 2B HEMP GIN.