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Edelbrände Ostermann: Old recipes and new creations

Dietmar Ostermann grew up with fruits and the aroma of fine distillates. He has always been interested in distillation. His father’s experience and the skills he learnt at the University of Hohenheim have helped him to implement his ideas, yet he is convinced that the art of distillation can only be learnt through first-hand experience. The senses cannot be taught which path to choose, they need to learn to work it out on their own.

From the outside, the distillery in Sulzbach-Rosenberg in Upper Palatinate doesn’t look like a place where fine distillates are created. The passion for distillation began a long time ago, with great-grandfather Peter in the 1920s. Father Franz ignited the spark in his son Dietmar to carry on the tradition, which was taken on with a modern licensed distillery in 2018. The repertoire has been continued and expanded with his own creations. The bases are either fruit distillates such as damson, Williams pear, raspberry, sloe or blackcurrant, or liqueurs with fruits or herbs. A London Dry Gin with botanicals from the Jura Mountains is one of a number of innovations. This father-son project took shape while another herbal liqueur was in the making. “It’s a lot of fun to develop something new and to experience the explosion of aromas in the distillery when they are set free during maceration and distillation.”

Their own beverage speciality market supports the success of regional direct marketing, and their online shop is also an important factor in helping to make the brand of OSTERMANN Edelbrände better known.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Blackcurrant Spirit, Wild Raspberry Spirit, Hazelnut Liqueur and Damson Brandy Liqueur.

Semper idem Underberg: A successful recipe with its own brands

The Underberg company is based in Rheinberg in North Rhine-Westphalia and has a history dating back more than 175 years – a unique success story among German companies and brands. Hubert Underberg (I) founded the company H. Underberg-Albrecht with his wife, Catharina Albrecht, on 17 June 1846 – their wedding day. This spawned an internationally active company group which is now a premium supplier of drinks brands in various market segments of the industry.

The one-product company was developed into a brand-oriented drinks business under the direction of Emil Underberg (II) with a sales volume of more than 300 million euros annually (2011). The Underberg companies employ over 400 staff worldwide. On average, more than every fourth bottle of the six biggest brands (Underberg, Asbach, PITÚ, XUXU, Grasovka and Riemerschmid) is sold outside of Germany.

Dr. Paul Underberg, the grandson of the company’s founder, was very cosmopolitan and had a natural passion for foreign cultures. He was particularly fascinated by the healing power of plants from the Amazon region. In 1933, he settled in Rio de Janeiro and started the production of ‘Underberg do Brasil’, which soon became Brazilian high society’s preferred drink.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Bio Underberg (World Spirits Award 2022 & Spirit of the Year 2022), and gold for Underberg.

Stock Polska – Prestige products with history

Polmos Lublin (known today as Stock Polska) was founded by the industrialist Emil Plage in Lublin in 1906 and was able to survive both world wars and the communist state leadership. The company was nationalised in 1948 and re-privatised in 2001. It traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange until 2005 and was sold in 2006. The new owners, Oaktree Capital Management, purchased the spirits division from Eckes Stock in 2007 and thereby laid the foundations for the current Stock Spirits Group. The company has its headquarters in Luxembourg, its service centre in Great Britain and its production sites in the Czech Republic, Italy and Poland.

Stock dates back to the year 1884 when Lionello Stock founded a beverages business in Trieste. He purchased a distillery in 1920 in what is currently part of the Czech Republic with the aim of tapping into new markets. This was followed by distilleries, bottling plants and warehouses in Italy, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia. In the 1920s, Stock was one of the biggest companies of its kind in Europe.

After an absence of 70 years, Stock returned to Poland and began to manufacture at the historic site of Lublin, 150 kilometres south-east of Warsaw. Intensive investment led to the creation of the most modern distillery in Poland and a leadership position on the vodka market. Poland’s most popular flavoured vodka is produced here: Zoladkowa Gorzka.

Lots of Stock products are produced by traditional recipes. These classical brands appeal to connoisseurs all over the world. In return, work is constantly being done on innovations that correspond to modern tastes and new drinking cultures. Quality standards are constantly upheld in both areas, of course.

The quality of the products was recognised at the World Spirits Award with a gold medal for the Orkisz Spelt Vodka.

Berentzen Group: 260 years of cultured distilled spirits

Berentzen Group is an innovative beverage company that boasts a wide portfolio and develops, produces and markets varied and fashionable drinks concepts. The portfolio includes spirits, alcohol-free beverages and fresh juices. With over 260 years of experience, they are one of the oldest national manufacturers of spirits and have a market presence in over 60 countries to date, with brands such as Berentzen and Puschkin as well as reasonably priced private label products.

In April 2023, Norden Sea Salt Gin was launched on the German market under the Doornkaat brand. It is a speciality on the gin shelf, as selected North Sea botanicals create an extraordinary and intense taste experience: juniper provides the spice, sea buckthorn and rosehip the fruity tartness. Norden Sea Salt Gin is rounded off with a pinch of sea salt. This spirit spreads the genuine nature and authenticity of the North Sea coast throughout Germany. It is versatile and can be enjoyed neat, on ice or mixed as a long drink or cocktail.

Tres Países Premium Rum combines distillates from Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic. After being stored for up to eight years in American white oak bourbon casks, they come to Europe for refinement by the master blender. The characteristics of the countries provide the taste profile: vanilla and butterscotch, elegant fruit, banana and chocolate. It is also available in a port cask finish, which is refined in aged casks for another six months.

At the World Spirits Award 2026, there was Gold for Tres Países Premium Rum and Silver for Doornkaat Norden Sea Salt Gin.