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Excelencia Tequilera de Jalisco: From Mexico to the rest of the world

Tequila Huizache is a homage to the Mexican region of Jalisco, which is famous for the manufacture of agave distillates and also where the roots of the company lie. The Huizache bush (Acacia farnesiana) is abundant in the dry landscape and has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes by the indigenous peoples of Mexico, who believe the plant to be holy. The name means ‘many thorns’ and is a symbol for the strength and resilience of the countryside and the people who live and work here.

Once the Spanish conquerors had recognised the value of the agave plant in the 16th century and introduced European knowledge about the art of distillation, the region – today a UNESCO world heritage site, incidentally – became the main producer of tequila, which was distributed from here to the rest of Mexico. In 1870, Tequila Herradura SA de CV was founded and, over time, developed to become one of the biggest brands. In the late 1990s, the sisters Luz Gabriela and María Elisa Romo de la Peña decided to sell their stakes in the company and take over the plantations. In 2003, they founded the Excelencia Tequilera de Jalisco and specialised in the production of 100% agave premium tequila. The top brand Tequila Huizache was introduced in 2005 and opened a new chapter in the success story, which spans six generations with almost 150 years of experience.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Huizache Blanco, Huizache Reposado and Huizache Origen.

BillionBars: From a bartender to a drinks developer

Robert Pölzl is one of the best-known bartenders in Austria, the bar is his world and his vocation. Travelling around the world, he entertains, advises and serves, sometimes shaking and sometimes stirring. He transforms classic drinks into new creations using modern methods and flavours. Because for him the possibilities of working with drinks and spirits is endless, he chose the name BillionBars. For people looking for a bar concept and innovative drinks, they are definitely in the right hands with Pölzl. His aim is to identify what the customer wants and needs.

He himself has already sampled and mixed hundreds of gins, and has now developed his own creation. According to the motto: Small Batch, Big Taste, Great Gin. As a bartender, he has made it his task to keep conjuring new drink experiences into the glasses of guests. For his own gin he perfected the various botanicals. In his words: “Eye – nose – palate”.

With the master distiller Patrick Marchl, he found the missing building block for realising his vision. The high quality standards are reflected in the choice of exclusively organic botanicals. Distilling was undertaken by Rick Gin in Styria, with traditional ingredients such as juniper berries, complex pepper aromas and fine lemon and cardamon, creatively rounded off with a fine hint of truffle. The New Western Style category was therefore the right platform for reinterpreting creativity and the courage to ‘be different’.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was awarded to BillionBars Trüffel Dry Gin.

Bimmerle: Know-how meets regionality and trend awareness

At the production site in the Black Forest town of Sasbach, which was opened in 2015, this family business sets innovative standards in technology, sustainability and environmental protection. For the last five decades, Bimmerle has strived for the highest quality, with focussed know-how, modern high-tech and the traditional art of distilling. This is the first distillery in Germany where all the heating requirements and power generation are covered by the burning of fruit stones combined with woodchips from the region.

In Germany and on the European market, Bimmerle is a leader in the fruit brandies sector with the Lörch brand. In order to make the ‘playground’ more interesting, the brand identity was modernised in 2024 and will be extended in 2025 by a fruit brandy range matured in wooden casks. Needle Black Forest Gin is among the top 5 most widely sold gins in Germany. The portfolio has been expanded since 2018 with WOOD STORK Spiced Rum and the EVERMANN Black Forest whiskies Theo & Wilhelm introduced in 2022. The Black Forest distillery has enriched the liqueur and aperitif market with as many as five exciting creations under the DON PASQUALE brand.

The World Class Distillery 2025 & Distillery of the Year 2025 – Bronze (Bitters & Liqueurs) received Gold for Don Pasquale Limoncello Liqueur, Zünftler Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Wood Stork Spiced Rum, Lörch Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Lörch Vanillekipferl Sahnelikör (vanilla cream liqueur), Needle Gin Green, Don Pasquale Aperitif Bitter Liqueur, Don Pasquale Espresso Martini Liqueur, Don Pasquale Hazelnut Liqueur and Lörch Linzertorte Sahnelikör (Linzer tart cream liqueur). Silver was awarded to Kronenhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Zinselhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Altes Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser (damson spirit), Needle Blackforest Distilled Dry Gin, Needle Gin Rosé, Don Pasquale Pistachio Cream Liqueur, Lörch Bratapfel Sahnelikör (baked apple cream liqueur), Zünftler Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Lörch Williams Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (pear spirit aged in a wooden cask) and Lörch Marille Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (apricot spirit aged in a wooden cask), and Bronze to Lörch Obst Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (fruit spirit aged in a wooden cask).

Schwarze & Schlichte – Brand personalities from Westphalia

The family business Schwarze & Schlichte from Westphalia has been representing the highest quality spirits for the last 345 years with a distinct range of national specialities, regional traditional brands and successful international innovations. This top quality is based on a distilling tradition acquired over centuries which has been passed down over twelve generations. Even today, distilling and maceration still take place at the company’s own distillery where plenty of time and skill are invested. The selection and processing of the best raw materials and continuous control of the production process ensure a consistently high quality. One factor for success is the ongoing brand management in accordance with the specific requirements of the various brand personalities.

Three Sixty Vodka is one of the purest and mildest vodkas in the world. A fourfold distillation process ensures tangible softness and exceptional clarity while the purity of the vodka is all down to the time-consuming “Diamond Filtration” process: the finest filters are used, set with crystals like diamond dust, to remove even the smallest of suspended particles from the distillate. Even the packaging is unique: the facet-cut bottle of pure white shiny glass sets off this premium vodka to perfection. A black velvet label completes the sophisticated design.

The Grappa Bianca from Scavi & Ray is characterised by its full-bodied balanced flavour with powerful and intense aromas of marc. This crystal-clear brandy is soft and deliciously balanced thanks to the exquisite skill of the master distillery. The intense and fruity aroma is reminiscent of the sun-soaked vineyards in Italy.

Both products received a silver medal at the World-Spirits.