Slovenian Williamovka, Jin and Liker picked up gold medals in London
When we look at this year’s results of prestigious competitions in the field of brandy london Spirits Competition, which competes the best spirits from around the world, at the very top of the best -rated, among the most famous whiskey and cognac manufacturers, we come across the manufacturer’s name Mitja Firbasthe holder of the supplementary activity on the farm. The Firbas William, named Ciril, received as many as 98 points out of the hundreds at the evaluation.
Gold Medal for Slovenia was also given to Jin Zivagin Destileria Blackmill and the liqueur crystal Limoncello Sink Destileria, and more Slovenian gin received silver and bronze.
Slovenian William in the World Summit
« Bright and expressive, the smell of ripe fruit from the orchard, the taste offers layers of bone fruit and citrus with a soft texture that warms up and finishes, which is preserved with gentle sweetness and spices, » Viljamovko from the farm in Styria described the expert jury in London.
William Ciril impressed the jury in London and received as many as 98 points. Photo: Mitja Firbas
« A gold medal is proof that we are doing good that we are on the right track, » Firbas, who cooks according to a traditional recipe, explained to Delo, with double distillation in a copper boiler, which is still burning on firewood. A liter of Williams requires ten pounds of pears, which are produced on their own on the homestead, which is named after Ciril by Cyril. Only in this way can they ripen them in the trees until full maturity to develop the richest taste and aroma. The whole process from fruit production to distillation is thus carried out at the homestead, where in 1987 the first pear plantation was planted.
In 2019, Mitja Firbas took over the management of the farm and sent his William for a competition in London the following year. From 2020 to 2024, she won silver every year, and this year’s crop managed to convince the judges that the William Ciril had devoted a whopping 98 points. Only four drinks in a giant competition, where spirits and liqueurs from the entire world are involved, have received a point more.
Firbas attributes this year’s success to the combination of visual renovation of the brand, a slightly better pear harvest, and perhaps minor changes he has made this year in the aging of brandy.
The outstanding successes of Slovenian William in London have become a tradition in recent years. At the probably most prestigious alcohol -beverage competition in the world, the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, Viljamovka Zima Winter was the highest Viljamovka with 96 points this year and received its second gold medal. Two years ago, with 98 points, William was celebrated with a crumbling of dry pear producer Jela Kitt from Borovnica. This year’s IWSC London results have not yet been announced.
The brandy is cooked only from the crop of the home orchard. Photo: Mitja Firbas
Fibas believes that the Slovenian William is so successful mainly because of the climate that corresponds to the pear, as well as the enthusiastic growers. The most important is the ultimate fruit, but it must also be taken care that it « does not escape the aroma » during cooking, he explained.
Also winning the aromas of juniper berries and lemons
But while Viljamovka is one of the most respected and traditional spirits in Slovenia, many more gin growers competed in London. The biggest success with the gold medal and 96 points was the Živa Gin from the Blackmill Črnomalj distiller this year. Jin named after the Slavic goddess and welded in a unique wooden boiler developed by themselves, convinced the jury with the flavors of « bee wax, fragrant juniper berries, sweet root, birch bark and fruits of mulberry and apricots. »
Brin berries are a key component of gin. Photo: Shutterstock
Gold also won the Limoncelo crystal crystal with 96 points with Rogaška Slatina Sink’s Distillery micro distiller. « The vibrant smell is full of lemon zest and candied shells, the taste is sweet and smooth with a touch of lemon curd and gentle herbs, and in the end it is clean with a refreshing sweetness of citrus, which insists slightly, » the lemon liqueur described the jury. Sink’s Distillery also sent her gin crystal gin – Meadow to the match, winning a silver medal with 91 points.
As many as four gines were sent to London by Heaven & Hell from Prekmurje. Their gin with the Damascus rose and London Dry Gin Gold 47 won silver medals with 94 and 93 points and bronze with 89 and 87 points with their London Dry Gin Kocbek and Gin the Winners by Mura.
