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Diageo – From London to the whole world

Approximately 33,000 employees are employed worldwide at Diageo, the market leader in premium spirits, with Smirnoff (vodka), Johnnie Walker (whiskey), J&B (Scotch whiskey), Baileys (liqueur), Captain Morgan (rum), Cuervo (tequila) and Tanqueray (gin), Guinness beer and branded wines. Production takes place all around the world: from Great Britain and Ireland, Italy, Spain and Africa, to the USA, Canada, Latin America, Australia, India and the Caribbean. The global corporation emerged in 1997 from the merger between Guinness and GrandMet. 180 markets around the world are handled from its London headquarters.

A lot of work and lots of attention to detail go into creating the in-depth product descriptions on Diageo’s website. Information and analysis is provided about issues ranging from detailed descriptions of the production down to the most minute ingredients. Finally, they are aware of the size of their company and also of their responsibilities as a supplier of alcoholic products. The name Diageo was also deliberately chosen – it represents their agenda. Put together from ‘dia’ (the Latin word for ‘day’) and ‘geo’ (the Greek word for ‘world’), it means that every day people are celebrating all over the world with products from their company. These products open up possibilities never dreamed of for special days and nights, marking special life events and even making the smaller things in life feel magical.

Participation in the World Spirits Award was magical: there was double gold for Tanqueray No. 10 (Spirit of the Year 2016), gold for Gordon’s London Dry Gin and Tanqueray London Dry Gin, as well as silver for Tanqueray Rangpur.

Hödl Hof: Quality for generations since 1542

Alfred Dunst has been running the family business since 1993. His greatest passion is product development. “For me, the skill of distillation is an art form when it is carried out with experience and love. Inspiration is offered by nature that surrounds us. We see it as our duty to only produce our specialities with natural, high-quality ingredients that are carefully selected. We want to provide our customers with the same pleasure in drinking it as we have in making it,” he says.

45 hectares of organically farmed orchards and woodlands provide the raw materials for distillation, wood for heating, as well as for some of the storage barrels and, in addition, ingredients for the products, such as fir tips, wild fruit, mushrooms, roots, etc. Soft water with a low mineral content comes from their own spring in the protected area of the Rabenwaldkogel. Double distillation is carried out in copper vats following an old Styrian tradition. Only the ‘heart’ is extracted and matured in wood, glass or stainless steel.

As a special customer service, the product range is also available in 20 ml bottles. So it is possible to get an idea of the whole range or organise a tasting at home. For over 25 years, an informative schnapps trail has led through the orchards and woodlands, informing visitors about the various fruits, and the manufacture and storage of the products.

The World Class Distillery 2021 (Distillery of the Year 2021 – Bronze) received double gold for Stone Vodka (Spirit of the Year 2021), gold for Stone Red, The Original 1542 Old Classic, Troad Single Cask, Blended Single Malt Whisky and Stone Oak Vodka, and silver for The Original 1542 London Dry Gin Old Oak and Hödl Hof Feuerholz.

Gautier Mückstein: A high percentage liquor with a long history

As Austria’s first climate-neutral spirits’ manufacturer, Gautier Mückstein is an advocate for the safeguarding and smart use of valuable resources. Since 1880, this traditional business from Vienna has stood out with a constantly increasing, wide range of products. Spirits, liqueurs and a range of punch varieties are part of the assortment, but classics such as Inländer rum and brandy also promise quality, enjoyment and sustainability.

Over 130 years ago, Wilhelm Hauck started off with a small production hall for spirits, liqueurs and fruit juices in Vienna. Since being taken over by Wilhelm Mückstein in 1948 and the acquisition of the Gautier & Co company in Perchtoldsdorf in 1955, the company has been managed under the name Gautier Mückstein Getränke GmbH. The product range at that time already included various types of punch, liqueurs, vodka and Inländer rum. In 2003, Ing. Florian Mückstein took over the management of the beverage manufacturer. In 2007, Ellinger & Co. was successfully integrated into the company group and the product range expanded to include aromas, essences and raw materials for the food industry. Every year, approximately 700,000 bottles are filled.

In 2019, Gautier Mückstein launched the blossom series and the ChocoLat series. Hibiscus blossom, elderflower, rose blossom and lime put summer in a glass, while the chocolate liqueurs are available in the varieties of nougat, chilli, banana, mint, orange and pear.

The World Class Distillery 2021 (Distillery of the Year 2021 – Silver) received double gold for ChocoLat Mint, ChocoLat Orange (Spirit of the Year 2021), Marzipan Cream Liqueur (Spirit of the Year & World Spirits Award 2021), ChocoLat Chilli and Speculoo Liqueur, gold for ChocoLat Nougat, ChocoLat Banana and Coconut Liqueur, and silver for Amaretto Liqueur and Punschkrapfen Liqueur.