World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Senor Ron: A feast for the senses

In COVID-19 times, the yearning for lightheartedness and sociable togetherness has increased greatly among many people. This drove a few ‘crazy Berlin guys’, Steven-Peer Gattermann, Maik Thiele and Patrick Wiese, to launch a crazy project: offering the experience of the Caribbean ‘way of life’. Inspired by unforgettable sociable moments in the Caribbean, they wanted to redefine rum. They chose to move away from the ‘rather dusty image of old pirate stories’ towards a pure zest for life and an exotic and fruity taste experience. The USP of the product is its taste. It is not a classic rum or simple blend but an exclusive composition of select rums from the Caribbean with the natural aromas of fresh fruits.

Various rum blends, which are the raw ingredients, come from the Dominican Republic, and are then brought to Spain and stored in sherry barrels. Then they travel to the far north of Germany, for further processing near Flensburg, where they add the trademarked essence, developed over many years of work. It contains hints of mango, banana, pineapple and other fruits and is soaked in rum again. The process is finalised by filling into manually designed, white bottles with labels artistically created by hand.

At the World Spirits Award, Ron received silver.

Khemani Group – Big player from India

The Khemani Group, a family business in which three generations work together, is one of the leading companies in India, with more than 30 years’ experience in the distilling and brewery industry. In two distilleries, with a total daily capacity of 65,000 litres of neutral alcohol, grain-based spirits are produced to international standards, and international brand- name products are bottled.

The company was founded under the title ‘Royal Distillery’ in the picturesque surroundings of the former Portuguese colony, Daman, on the Arabian Sea. The aim was to combine the Portuguese and British flavours and traditions in the production of alcoholic drinks. Based on this, they developed their own classic line of excellent products and solid business practices which led to remarkable growth. The original distillery has since been constantly expanding and is now state-of-the-art, always with an eye on international and global quality requirements.

Despite of taking a global leap, the Khemanie Group strives to uphold their committment to quality, which effort has won them international recognition. Having successfully scaled up in capacity, the state-of-the-art distilleries group now proudly offers a wide range of products and packaging sizes, ranging from 50ml sachets to 2,000 ml glass and PET bottles.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Thomas Crown Whisky, and silver for Royal Circle Whisky.

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.

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.