World-Spirits Online Guide Abo – order now

Corralejo – Top tequila from blue agave

Tequilera Corralejo, also known as Hacienda Corralejo, was founded in 1775 by Pedro Sánchez de Tagle and was one of the first commercially producing distilleries for tequila in Mexico. The site is open to the public and today also houses the Museo del Vino y la Botella, a wine and bottle museum. The historic significance of the site highlights the fact that the ‘Father of Mexican independence’ was born here 220 years ago – the priest, scholar and revolutionary Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The premium products of the company are also typically Mexican and are exported to more than 77 countries across the world, in particular Asia, Europe, America and the Caribbean: Tequila Blanco, Reposado and Añejo and the special Triple Destilado and Gran Corralejo.

The basis for the tequila is blue agave (Weber Blue Agave) with its lengthy growing cycle of 8 years. It is produced in specific controlled areas and harvested by hand once fully ripe. The hearts of the agave (piña) weigh approx. 80 to 100 pounds. After checking the quality and sugar content, they are sliced and slowly cooked under steam in the stone oven for 30 hours. The agave juice is then extracted as part of a shredding process and fermented with yeast developed especially for the company. Distillation takes place in a copper vessel before the distillate is stored in French oak casks and bottled in traditional bottles with a special colour code for each product such as the Blanco in white.

The Corralejo Tequila Blanco and Los Arango Tequila Blanco were awarded gold at the World Spirits Award.

Absintherie Celle à Guilloud: A legend with a past and a future

The homeland of absinthe is an area which defies borders: from Val-de-Travers in Switzerland to Pontarlier in France. A wormwood herb with an exceptional flavour grows here in the French-Swiss Jura, which gives absinthe its shared heritage – historically, industrially, socially and culturally. After being re-licensed in Switzerland and France, the region has set itself the goal of promoting the original absinthe and its origins. This has given rise to the ‘Route de l’Absinthe’ with interesting places, events and products relating to the ‘green fairy’ along the way. One such station is the small Absintherie Celle à Guilloud in Fleurier, Val-de-Travers.

For centuries, the location in the canton of Neuchâtel has been a centre of the watch-making industry and the homeland of two Nobel Prize winners. Here, the legend of the valley (formerly also a centre of absinthe distilling) lives on. Daniel Guilloud’s different versions of the mysterious, aromatic drink are far from the industrial standard – visitors can see this for themselves on a tour of the distillery. The beautifully furnished store sells absinthe in various forms, as well as limited editions, hand-blown glass bottles, accessories and much more; above all, though, riveting stories about the mysterious past of absinthe, told by Pierre-André Matthey, the successor to founder Daniel Guilloud. Both received the World Spirits Award 2025 honoris causa for their lives’ work.

At the World Spirits Award 2025, there was Double Gold for Absinthe Celle à Guilloud 54°, Gold for Absinthe La Guilloudtine 68° and Absinthe Celle du Docteur 54°.

LA SU Gin: Exotic holiday feeling in a glass

Alexander Kayser and Christopher Schuh are true gin lovers and founders of the brand LA SU Gin – a registered brand of Expo Outline Messebau und Event GmbH in Altenstadt, with Alexander Kayser as the managing partner.

After exploring many trains of thought, it was clear to both of them that it had to be exotic. LA SU Gin is a premium handcrafted gin with a hint of fruity mango. Distilled in small batches, traditionally and without additives, it is made in one of the oldest distilleries in Europe. The mango gives it a special freshness and balances the tart notes of the spices perfectly. Next to the mango, LA SU evokes a sense of travel. Enjoy a holiday feeling and discover new taste sensations. The elaborate bottle design reflects a love of detail and certainly leaves an impression.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was achieved by LA SU *MGO* Natural Mango.

Georg Hemmeter – XUXU, Escorial, SILLA EL FUERTE

Georg Hemmeter – strawberry drinks with exceptional flavour guaranteed

The name Georg Hemmeter – a company of the Underberg Group – stands for innovative spirits, in particular the XUXU range. The fresh and fruity strawberry drink contains 66 percent fruit plus crystal-clear vodka, rounded off with a dash of lime. The harmony between the sweetness of the fruit and just 15% alcohol by volume is created using a special production method. XUXU Ten, the little luxury in a 250 ml aluminium bottle with only 10% alcohol by volume, is dressed to party – it is still relatively new to the market, yet is already at home in all the world’s top party venues.
XUXU can be served in so many different ways: chilled, neat, on crushed ice, as a dessert topping, with sparkling wine or with other mixers – XUXU tastes heavenly and offers fresh and fruity pleasure. Welcome to Berrydise!

Initially the absolute top star in Greece, XUXU is now also number 1 in Russia, and extremely popular in Turkey and Italy too.


XUXU Strawberry & Vodka Drink and XUXU Ten won Gold at the World Spirits Award 2014.