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Badel 1862: Number one on the Croatian market

Badel 1862 is the largest and oldest producer of spirits in Croatia and the market leader in all categories of alcoholic drinks in Croatia, as well as the whole Adriatic region. This accolade testifies to the quality of the products and the preservation of the rich tradition that is also reflected in the name of the company, coupled with innovations that keep pace with new trends. The portfolio comprises more than 100 products, including brandies, liqueurs, gin and vodka.

The flagship of the portfolio and the most widely sold herb liqueur of the Adriatic region is the traditional Pelinkovac. The secret lies in the original manufacturing process: according to an old recipe, in which a selected mix of herbs is crowned by ‘pelin’ (in Latin, Artemisia absinthium). The ‘rising star’ is Antique Pelinkovac, with its recipe from the founding year of 1862. Originally a medicinal drink, today it is part of the traditional gastronomy.

The most widely sold Hrvatska Stara Šljivovica made from the local plum type Bistrica and matured in Slavonian barrels, is a ‘signature drink’ with cult status. The special character of the Badel Hrvatska Stara Šljivovica Premium Selection is defined by a selection of distillates from different barrels. The Badel Prima Brand Black has been appreciated for generations alongside the original recipe for special wine distillates that are matured for 15 years in Slavonian oak barrels.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Badel Prima Brand Black and Badel Pelinkovac Gorki, and silver for Hrvatska Stara Badel Šljivovica, Antique Pelinkovac and Hrvatska Stara Badel Šljivovica Premium Selection.

Kamill – Top spirits with a golden shine

High quality spirits have been refined at Kamill using a special method since 2009. The core products are vodka, brandy and whisky, but there is also raki and apricot brandy, to which 23 carat gold flakes are added. When it comes to bottling, imagination and creativity are also evident in the 3D label and the unusual bottle shapes. The ‘golden idea’ behind all this: “In the Middle Ages, gold was the symbol for the human heart and the power of God, which is why gold tinctures were used for healing purposes. Research has shown that the structures of this element transport medicines into the body perfectly. So why shouldn’t we also use this for more enjoyable products?”

In the ‘workshop’ at Kamill everything is done by hand. The vodka, for example, is filled into 10 litre canisters and clarified in a four-week procedure (using a special agent made from protein and edible gelatine), whereby the essential oils sink to the bottom. After being filled into other containers, the pure alcohol is brought to -20°C. This mixture is filled into yet another container, so that the remaining essential oils can be removed from the liquid. The final product from these processes is a pure, neutral-tasting vodka which can be further refined. After filtering, edible flakes of gold (E-175) are added and the shiny final product is filled into bottles. ‘Austrian Gold Savran Vodka’ gets its special flair from high quality organic Marchfeld saffron from the Schartner family’s farm.

The ‘treasures’ impressed the judges at the World Spirits Award: they won double gold for Baku, and gold for Oligarch Gold Vodka Saffron and Azerbaijan Gold Vodka.

Jim Beam Distillery – Bourbon straight on

Knob Creek is named after a rivulet in Kentucky, the home of President Abraham Lincoln. His steadfast attitude seems to serve as an example for this straightforward bourbon. The square ‘chemist’s bottle’ suits these traditional values perfectly, as does the striking label which is reminiscent of the old tradition of wrapping bottles in newspaper. To this day, a mixture of experience and craftsmanship is the recipe for success for the bourbon from Knob Creek.

The bourbon was at the peak of its success in 1919, when the nationwide prohibition of the sale, manufacture and transport of alcohol began – lasting until 1933. Following this, a new start was impossible for many distilleries; others couldn’t finance the customary long maturing process of the bourbon. This situation motivated Booker Noe to revive the traditional bourbon style from the time before the prohibition: rich in aroma, with discreet sweetness due to year-long maturation in strongly ‘toasted’ wooden barrels from American white oak. In 1950, he joined the family business – his mother was the daughter of Jim Beam, which meant bourbon was already in his blood – and completed his training as Master Distiller. With the small series of premium bourbon he launched, the term ‘batch’ (small) was established and revolutionised the industry. His son, Fred Noe, continues with this clear strategy: “I learnt the business from scratch, listened to my father and learnt on the job. I know what it means to make perfect bourbon. Each bottle is a reflection of my family.” Since 1992, the Knob Creek brand has represented these values with the perfect combination of tradition and top quality.

A golden trio was successful at the World Spirits Award: Knob Creek Rye Whiskey Small Batch, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon and Knob Creek Straight Bourbon.