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MV GROUP – A wide range from the Baltic states

MV Group is one of the largest business groups in the Baltic states. There are four divisions responsible for the production of alcoholic drinks: Stumbras, Alita, Anykš i vynas and Gubernija - the oldest brewery in Lithuania, with more than 350 years of experience under its belt. The factory specialises in beer, kvass and other drinks. Another member of the group is Mineraliniai Vandenys, the leading wholesaler for alcohol, tobacco, and other consumer goods in the Baltic countries, with subsidiaries in Latvia, Estonia and Poland, and the specialist chainstore Bottlery, where over 1,000 drink brands as well as snacks and table accessories are sold. Tromina, one of the most innovative, stable and fastest-growing logistics businesses in Lithuania, manages a 35,000 m2 storage area and offers a comprehensive range of services – from storage and preparation of goods to sales, transport, distribution, accounting and invoicing.

Alita is one of the oldest and well-known manufacturers of sparkling wines and spirits in Lithuania. The portfolio includes sparkling wines, brandies, bitters, cocktails, carbonated drinks, vodka and other spirits. A large percentage of the production is exported. Stumbras is one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of alcoholic drinks in the Baltic region, and specialises in vodka, bitters, liqueurs and brandy. Anykšciu vynas is one of the oldest businesses in the southern Baltic region, well-known for fruit and berry wines, cider, bitters, liqueurs as well as concentrated juices, mostly from regional raw materials.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Alita Brandy XO.

Rheinspiration: From an idea on a cruise ship to a new brand of gin

“We love gin. And perfect handicraft. We combined the two in March 2018 to make the dream of our own gin brand come true.” During a cruise, the perfect opportunity arose to lay the foundations: in a workshop on the high seas, the two managing directors, Daniel Reuter and Christian Schillings, developed the basic recipe for their mild DormaGIN. It is now produced with a passion in the Rhenish Köln-Ehrenfeld. The hand-selected botanicals follow the motto ‘less is more’: in addition to lemon peel and ginger, there are also coriander and cardamom, among others, and bergamot provides the distinct citrus note. The premium gin has been on the market since November 2018, in May and November 2019 the family grew: this was when a sloe gin and a barrel-aged variety were introduced into the product portfolio.

There is a story behind the name of the gin. It is, in part, an homage to Dormagen, the hometown of the two men. In addition, there is the bergamot as the leading botanical – a kind of citrus fruit that is mainly grown in Calabria. “This nuance, the lightness of the Italian Dolce Vita and the aria ‘Nessun dorma’ from Puccini’s opera Turandot inspired us to come up with the name ‘DormaGIN’,” say the two creative gentlemen. „‘Nobody should sleep‘, as the translated title of the aria says, but rather enjoy DormaGIN with friends.”

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for DormaGIN and DormaGIN Sloe Gin.

Ehrenwert GmbH: One recipe – two families

One recipe – two families. Each family has its own carefully guarded secret recipe, and with the Lücke family this remained in the hands of grandfather Heinz and later his son Dieter for many decades. Long enough, thought sons Thomas and Christian. In any case, it is the ‘Felsenfeuer’ herb liqueur that once made the Lücke Distillery one of the most important in Münsterland. After the war they continued the success story which first began in the 18th century, with this herb liqueur, using the recipe that Heinz Lücke worked out. In the 1950s everyone was talking about it, but in the 1960s the era of the distillery and the herb liqueur ended. But not for good – 60 years later it celebrated its resurrection with the ‘Freudenfeuer’.

Whilst searching for a distillery, Thomas and Christian kept to family tradition, as their grandmother was a Sasse, and the Sasses’ fine distillery in Schöppingen is still well known today. Following a traditional recipe from 1947 the new liqueur is distilled in small batches and is bottled by hand after a ten-day rest period. Ready to enjoy: neat and ice cold like in the time of our grandfathers, or smoother, on ice with lightly pressed orange zest, or as a basis for a long drink with tonic water or ginger ale. To old times and new friends!

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Freudenfeuer.