World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

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.

MBG International Premium Brands – Brands with added value

“We Love Liquids.” This slogan has accompanied MBG on its worldwide path of success since it was founded in 1993 under the name P.O.S. Marketing + Vertrieb GmbH: Strong brands have been established around the world in nearly 60 countries, with innovative own brands, renowned retail brands, great ideas and a lot of energy. With over 250 employees, the MBG Group currently generates over € 200 million and, every year, more than a million hectolitres are produced. The portfolio in Germany includes 12 own brands and 6 retail brands (from non-alcoholic drinks to low proof drinks to wines & spirits) for 90,000 customers.

“Our recipe for successful brands is the mixture of passion, conviction and knowledge of the market. If all goes well, names and products become new worlds which consumers love. Success is not always predictable, which means that courage is needed above all. The right moment has to be found and hard work put in, just like with a hit single: some are one hit wonders while others become classics.” Little can be added to this definition from Managing Director Andreas W. Herb. From the MBG Group headquarters in Paderborn, a great deal of expertise makes successful brands, tailored to the respective target group and the market segment. Many brands that are well known on shop shelves and in the gastronomy sector have played a role in the history of the company.

Participation in the World Spirits Award yielded gold for Dos Mas Nasty Nuts Shot.

Glina Destillerie: The finest raw materials from their own fields

Not far from Berlin – about a 30-minute drive from the Reichstag – high-quality spirits have been produced since 1991. Since 2004, rye and single malt whisky have been made from champagne rye and spring barley from their own fields. The sandy earth streaked with loam and clay, combined with the mild climate in the Havel region, offers perfect conditions for crop cultivation, forming the basis for their mild and fruity whiskies. A fundamental role is also played by the water from their own 86-metre-deep Elisabeth spring.

The master distiller and owner Michael Schultz controls every step of the production process. “I am dedicated to my production with all my heart and do everything myself, from cultivation right through mash and distillation to barrel storage and filling.” As one of the few distilleries in Germany, Glina has a ten-year single malt in its product range that matures in three different barrels. Apart from whisky, gin is also produced and since 2020 the striking colour of Sir Henry Magic Blue has been attracting attention. To convey the high quality standards, each bottle bears the handprint of the master distiller. Glina stands for authentic whisky from the Margraviate of Brandenburg. The promise of “My hand for my product” is part of the company philosophy which they live and breathe.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to Sir Henry Gin + Grapefruit, Sir Henry Gin + Magic Blue and Glina RYE Whisky made from champagne rye, silver to Der Siedler Gin, Glina Single Malt Whisky in the Bordeaux barrel from Château Clos Fontaine 2012, Glina Single Malt Whisky 8 Years Triple Cask Strength and Glina Single Malt Whisky 10 Years Triple Cask Strength, and bronze to Sir Henry Gin and Glina Single Malt Whisky Ex Siedlerhof Knupper-Kirschwein-Fass and the First Class Distillery classification.

b.gin: Puristic gin from the Traisental valley

It all started at a birthday celebration where the gift was a 2-litre table distiller – and two childhood friends decided to create a gin: anything other than classic, but rather charming and devoted to their homeland. Many botanicals come from the region: freshly plucked rosemary, lemons from their own trees, rosehips picked at temperatures below zero, lavender and much more from the family gardens. A week after the first starter, the mini distillery was put into operation. At the time, the two of them were in a COVID lockdown, so they tinkered and sampled in the cellar of the house. They soon found a name to suit the cause: Bernhard & Bernhard = b.gin.

Things then moved quickly. The table distiller was swapped for an 80-litre still and b.gin was presented on 1 May 2021. Pure enjoyment for every occasion, carefully distilled, unfiltered, filled by hand, matured in a clay bottle: b.gin – the classic, b.fresh – the fruity one, b.arrel gin – the unique one. Since then, the product range has been extended with additional gins and tonics. There is a big focus on the finalisation: high-quality labels, tags, ties, seals, attaching the cocktail umbrella, sealing wax. Sales are from the farm, in the online shop and in wine shops. Their home base is the Steyrer vineyard in Kuffern. The vintner Bernhard is the troubleshooter, as well as the attachment professional and distilling master, while Bernhard Dockner is the finder of ideas, printing master, refinement professional and also distilling master. They have pooled their creativity and know-how to create gins that are really fun.

At the World Spirits Award, double gold (World-Spirits Award 2023 & Spirit of the Year 2023) was awarded to b.gin Traisental, gold to b.gin fresh and silver to b.arrel gin.