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Ditta Bortolo Nardini – Passion for an Italian icon

The oldest distillery in Italy was founded in Bassano del Grappa in 1779 and is now being run in the seventh generation of the Nardini family: Angelo, Antonio, Cristina and Leonardo. They continue the family tradition and are dedicated to an Italian icon – grappa. Distillation takes place at two locations, Bassano and Monastier, whereby in Bassano there is also steel tank storage for white grappa products and a cellar with over 500 barrels made from Slavonian oak for the maturation of the Grappa Riserva. A team of experts in an in-house laboratory oversees the entire work process, thus guaranteeing the highest quality standards.

For grappa production, grape marc from mainly local, typical grape varieties is selected. Quality control begins with the harvest and, 24 hours at the latest after pressing, the marc is delivered to the distillery. Here it is stored in air-tight containers to guarantee the high quality of the distillate. Despite the size of the company, there is a strong focus on traditional distilling methods, with the goal of constant improvement. Speaking of tradition: the distillery is a member of ‘Les Henokiens’, an exclusive, international club of about 50 family businesses, which are at least 200 years old.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Acqua di Cedro, Selezione Bortolo Nardini 7 y.o., and silver for Mandorla, Selezione Bortolo Nardini 15 y.o. and Amaro.

Chilgrove Gin – Gin for all seasons

Chilgrove Dry Gin is the first gin in England that is based on a neutral spirit made of grapes, as was the norm in Genever in the Netherlands in the 16th century. Christopher and Celia Beaumont-Hutchings are the force behind the concept, but the distilling was carried out at Thames Distillers under the watchful eye of Charles Maxwell. “Chilgrove combines historic and contemporary ideas in a whole new style, as the herbal ingredients react completely differently with the wine spirit than with a grain spirit”, the master distiller explains. “A powerful, complex gin with a soft texture in the mouth and perfect length, initially with a hint of flowers, complemented by citrus flavours, leading to a peppery-spicy finish.”

The eleven selected botanicals are juniper berries as the backbone, coriander seeds, sweet orange, savory, angelica root, lime, liquorice root, iris root, grains of paradise, bitter orange and water mint. Due to its elegant style and modern taste, the adaptable ‘gin for every season and consumer’ is very versatile, from Gin & Tonic Chilgrove to Chilgrove The Fizz with English sparkling wine to Chilgrove Dry Martini and Collins. The stylish bottle is unmistakable with its silver diamond-shaped label and natural cork. The name refers to the small village of Chilgrove in the heart of the South Downs National Park.

At the World Spirits Award, Chilgrove Dry Gin was awarded silver.

Roust Hungary: Affordable luxury on the spirits market

Roust was founded in 1992 by the Russian businessman Roustam Tariko and quickly developed into a leading business group in the sale of premium spirits brands. One of the world’s leading vodka producers, the company is present in more than 80 countries. Roust owns production plants and distribution centres in Hungary, Russia and Italy. The comprehensive portfolio includes the flagship vodka brands of Russian Standard, Green Mark, Parliament and Zhuravli.

Thanks to its extensive knowledge in sales and marketing and its commitment to responsible alcohol consumption, Roust Hungary has become the leading supplier on the domestic spirits market. The largest premium spirits company in Hungary also sells the Royal, Zubrówka, Russian Standard, Gancia, Grants, Jägermeister and Metaxa brands.

For years, Royal Vodka has maintained its position as the most popular and well-known vodka brand in Hungary, and also remains market leader in terms of volume and turnover. Royal Vodka is produced using natural ingredients, from the grain to the well water, which contributes to its mild taste.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Royal Original Vodka, and bronze for Royal Raspberry Liqueur.