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Tradition Mexico – Tequila without compromises

The friends behind Padre azul, the new tequila in the premium segment, stand united on one matter: their passion for Mexico. “We appreciate high quality tequila, and with Padre azul we are bringing an exclusive product to Europe. We searched for the perfect distillery for a long time. At Tres Mujeres in Jalisco in the highlands of Mexico we found what we were looking for.” 100% Mexico – 100% handcraft – 100% agave.

These requirements and quality criteria apply to the whole production process, which is why each bottle also wears the sought-after quality seal from the Mexican authorities, “Consejo Regulador del Tequila” (CRT). There were no compromises when it came to the design of the bottles: they are made by hand and adorned with a 270g skull which represents the skull culture of Mexico.

Padre azul is available in three grades of maturity, depending on the length of storage. The Añejo usually spends eighteen months in French oak barrels to achieve a mature, full-bodied taste. The Reposado needs at least eight months in barrels for its subtle vanilla tone. The Blanco is a clear tequila which is bottled straight after distillation – it is soft and mild in taste. None of the three need salt or lemon – you can enjoy them neat. True to the motto: no compromises.

At the World Spirits Award, the trio was very successful: there was double gold for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul anejo, gold for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul reposado, and silver for Super Premium Tequila Padre azul blanco.

Bimmerle: Know-how meets regionality and trend awareness

At the production site in the Black Forest town of Sasbach, which was opened in 2015, this family business sets innovative standards in technology, sustainability and environmental protection. For the last five decades, Bimmerle has strived for the highest quality, with focussed know-how, modern high-tech and the traditional art of distilling. This is the first distillery in Germany where all the heating requirements and power generation are covered by the burning of fruit stones combined with woodchips from the region.

In Germany and on the European market, Bimmerle is a leader in the fruit brandies sector with the Lörch brand. In order to make the ‘playground’ more interesting, the brand identity was modernised in 2024 and will be extended in 2025 by a fruit brandy range matured in wooden casks. Needle Black Forest Gin is among the top 5 most widely sold gins in Germany. The portfolio has been expanded since 2018 with WOOD STORK Spiced Rum and the EVERMANN Black Forest whiskies Theo & Wilhelm introduced in 2022. The Black Forest distillery has enriched the liqueur and aperitif market with as many as five exciting creations under the DON PASQUALE brand.

The World Class Distillery 2025 & Distillery of the Year 2025 – Bronze (Bitters & Liqueurs) received Gold for Don Pasquale Limoncello Liqueur, Zünftler Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Wood Stork Spiced Rum, Lörch Waldhimbeergeist (wild raspberry spirit), Lörch Vanillekipferl Sahnelikör (vanilla cream liqueur), Needle Gin Green, Don Pasquale Aperitif Bitter Liqueur, Don Pasquale Espresso Martini Liqueur, Don Pasquale Hazelnut Liqueur and Lörch Linzertorte Sahnelikör (Linzer tart cream liqueur). Silver was awarded to Kronenhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Zinselhof Alter Williams Christ Birnenbrand (pear brandy), Lörch Altes Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser (damson spirit), Needle Blackforest Distilled Dry Gin, Needle Gin Rosé, Don Pasquale Pistachio Cream Liqueur, Lörch Bratapfel Sahnelikör (baked apple cream liqueur), Zünftler Alte Williams Christ Birne (pear brandy), Lörch Williams Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (pear spirit aged in a wooden cask) and Lörch Marille Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (apricot spirit aged in a wooden cask), and Bronze to Lörch Obst Spirituose im Holzfass gelagert (fruit spirit aged in a wooden cask).

Lambay Irish Whiskey Company: A family alliance in the whiskey world

The Lambay Irish Whiskey Company (LIWC) celebrated its market debut in 2018 as an independent enterprise based in Dublin. It evolved from the cooperation between Camus (Cyril Camus), the worldwide leading cognac producer in family ownership, and the Revelstoke Trust of the Baring family (Alexander Baring). The two gentlemen have a common history and came together to create a unique Irish whiskey. This relationship between Camus and the Baring Revelstoke Trust is inspired and named after the Irish isle of Lambay, which sits off the coast of Dublin and is a private nature reserve which has been in the Baring family since 1904.

Today, the brand is represented in 35 markets worldwide, in duty free shops and online. LIWC manager Jean-David Costerg is confident of future success because the unique brand history of both companies allows them to reach a new generation of whiskey consumers who are looking for exclusive, authentic, handcrafted products, positioned in the premium price category. Lambay Whiskey stands for a special category of Irish whiskey with a unique cognac barrel finish. The portfolio comprises Lambay Small Batch Blend, Lambay Single Malt, Lambay Malt and Lambay Single Cask Strength.

Lambay Single Malt matures on the isle of Lambay. There, the casks are exposed to the influence of the fresh sea air in a warehouse (‘The Sea Cask Room’) to bring a high salt content and maritime notes to the whiskey. After being blended on the mainland, the whiskeys are rounded off with the island’s Trinity Well water before being bottled.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Lambay Malt Irish and Lambay Small Batch Blend.

Mack Brands: Finvara – Irish Whiskey

Finvara is produced by master distiller David F. Hynes and his team at the Great Northern Distillery (GND) in Dundalk. The town has access to the purest water from the nearby Cooley Mountains, which is why brewing and distilling has been carried out in the region since the late 17th century. Dundalk’s large municipal distillery was in operation between 1708 and 1926. Two historic buildings still exist and are now home to the County Museum and Dundalk Library.

Only Irish malted and unmalted barley is used for the Finvara brand whiskey. The mash is traditionally distilled three times in classic copper pot stills and matured in different types of cask, including American white oak bourbon casks and Spanish sherry casks. The name Finvara goes back to the legendary king of an enchanted kingdom. As a master of transformation, he could take on any form he wanted. His image on the label leads you off on a mystical journey into bygone times and mysterious worlds.

Conte Camillo offers ready-to-drink Negroni – perfect for the fast pace of life in the city. Its origin lies in the northern Italian Alps, where master distiller Alessandro Francoli is responsible for the harmonious combination of gin, vermouth and bitters in a small mountain distillery in the Aosta Valley. Each component is made separately with regional ingredients. The gin is based on mineral-rich water from the Acqueverdi waterfall, combined with juniper from 2,400 metres above sea level, gentian, wild mallow and mountain roses. Herbs such as the small-flowered mountain mint and the aromatic mountain thyme are used for the vermouth. In Bitter Artigianale, wormwood, gentian and elderflower join other aromas such as orange peel and liquorice root.