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Krater Spirits: 400 years of tradition in Nördling

In the year 1621, the Alerheim innkeeper Caspar Beck received the entitlement from the ruling count at Oettingen ‘to brew beer and to run a brandy house’. This inheritance was continued by the family and supplemented by a herb liqueur with ginger and peppermint, which was launched on the market in 2013. The name ‘Kraterfeuer’ (Crater Fire) is due to its warming pungency. In 2015, Bavarian Krater Noster Distilled Dry Gin was added, for which wild juniper berries from the wild heath Rieser Heide were used, selected by hand on the edge of the crater that was formed 14 million years ago with the impact of a meteorite.

Since 2020, there is also Full Moon Krater Noster Distilled Dry Gin, a homage to the Apollo astronauts who trained here in 1970 for their voyage to the moon. NASA had sent them to Bavaria to prepare them for their mission in similar geological conditions. The suevite rock in the Ries region was fby that meteorite‘s impact – like the moon craters visible from Earth. Therefore, the Full Moon edition was composed with wild juniper berries from the edge of the crater and beguiling moon plants such as sweet-tart meadowsweet.

Krater Spirits has become a family project involving everyone. Sustainability as forethought for the forthcoming generations is practised in everyday life: the energy for manufacturing the products and heating the buildings comes from renewable sources.

At the World Spirits Award, double gold was awarded to Kraterfeuer, gold to Bavarian Krater Noster Distilled Dry Gin, and silver to Full Moon Krater Noster Distilled Dry Gin.

Prodal'94 – Strong brands from Romania

Founded nearly 15 years ago, Prodal is now one of the largest producers of alcoholic drinks in Romania. Two stars from the product range – and market leaders in each of their categories – are the Wembley Dry Gin and Stalinskaya Vodka. The distinctive bottle and label designs come from the internationally recognised London company Claessens, a specialist on the international drinks market. At the World Spirits Award, the gin rated excellent, with double gold (Spirit of the Year 2014). The vodka received a gold medal.

The name Stalinskaya comes from the Russian word ‘stal’, which can be translated as ‘hard as steel’. Following an old Russian recipe, the vodka is produced with the most modern technology, the base ingredient is premium alcohol from the best grain. Stalinskaya came on the market in 1996 and grew constantly, today it is the number one with about 40% market share. The brand’s central motto, ‘For the strong’, is a central theme through all the advertising campaigns, whether print, film or video. Lots of ice and snow, a large dose of the male spirit for adventure, and always with a friend at their side – this also describes Stalinskaya: pure and authentic, and of the best quality.

The Wembley London Dry Gin came on the market in 2001 and became market leader in only eight months. It is still the most popular gin in Romania. Based on a traditional English recipe, distilled with the latest technology, it is ‘very British’. The name Wembley also evokes a district with history, and strong links to the concepts of entertainment and happiness. Londoners’ penchant for traditional values is underlined by the label design with the symbol of the British crown.

Ehrenwert GmbH: One recipe – two families

One recipe – two families. Each family has its own carefully guarded secret recipe, and with the Lücke family this remained in the hands of grandfather Heinz and later his son Dieter for many decades. Long enough, thought sons Thomas and Christian. In any case, it is the ‘Felsenfeuer’ herb liqueur that once made the Lücke Distillery one of the most important in Münsterland. After the war they continued the success story which first began in the 18th century, with this herb liqueur, using the recipe that Heinz Lücke worked out. In the 1950s everyone was talking about it, but in the 1960s the era of the distillery and the herb liqueur ended. But not for good – 60 years later it celebrated its resurrection with the ‘Freudenfeuer’.

Whilst searching for a distillery, Thomas and Christian kept to family tradition, as their grandmother was a Sasse, and the Sasses’ fine distillery in Schöppingen is still well known today. Following a traditional recipe from 1947 the new liqueur is distilled in small batches and is bottled by hand after a ten-day rest period. Ready to enjoy: neat and ice cold like in the time of our grandfathers, or smoother, on ice with lightly pressed orange zest, or as a basis for a long drink with tonic water or ginger ale. To old times and new friends!

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Freudenfeuer.