Distilia Recognised at the Very Top in 2025 by Zucker und Zeste

What Zucker und Zeste’s Annual Review Says About Our Year

Independent recognition is the most honest currency in the world of fine spirits. No press releases, no paid placements - just tasting glasses, experience, and credibility.
That is why we are incredibly proud of how Zucker und Zeste, one of Germany’s most respected independent spirits blogs, assessed Distilia in their 2025 Annual Review.

Their extensive year-in-review places Distilia not just among the active players of the scene - but clearly among its leading forces.

A Defining Year for Distilia

In a year packed with outstanding releases across rum, rhum agricole, whisky, cognac, armagnac and calvados, Distilia stood out repeatedly - across multiple categories, styles, and price segments.

What makes this especially meaningful: Zucker und Zeste openly state that in 2025 they focused less on quantity and more on highly selective, outstanding bottlings. And again and again, Distilia releases were among the very best they tasted.

This is not coincidence. It is the result of a clear philosophy:

• uncompromising cask selection

• zero additives

• full transparency

• and bottlings that speak to experienced enthusiasts, not trends

Multiple Category Winners - Not Just One Highlight

Very few independent bottlers appear once at the top of a ranking.
Distilia appears again and again.

Some highlights from the review:

• Rhum Agricole of the Year (93 points)
  The Virtues - Charity (Savanna 2008–2024)
  Described as one of the most profound and mature limited releases of the year - dense, complex and uncompromising.

• Another 93-point release
  The Sins - Sloth
  Praised for elegance, depth and artisan character, reinforcing the reputation of The Sins series as a benchmark for collectors.

• Cognac of the Year (95 points)
  The Sins - Vanity
  A 44-year-old vintage Cognac, recognised as one of the finest spirits - not just cognacs - released in 2025.

• Armagnac Category Winner (90 points)
  Distilia x The Bottle Shop - Domaine de Sancin 1989
  A powerful, mature Armagnac praised for depth, structure and exceptional balance.

• Calvados Category Winner (90 points)
  Distilia x The Bottle Shop - Domaine de la Flaguerie 1988
  Highlighted as an extremely rare, deeply mature Calvados with outstanding value for its quality.

And these are only the top placements. Distilia bottlings appear throughout the review as reference points - repeatedly described as highly limited, artistically curated, and remarkably priced for their quality.

More Than Bottlings: A Recognisable Signature

What becomes clear when reading the full article is that Distilia is no longer perceived as “just another independent bottler”.

Zucker und Zeste repeatedly underline:

• the conceptual consistency of series like The Sins and The Virtues

• the courage to release spirits at full strength

• and the willingness to work across categories without diluting identity

Distilia is portrayed as a house with a clear signature - one that collectors and connoisseurs recognise instantly.

From Insider Label to Market Reference

Perhaps the strongest takeaway from the 2025 review is this:
Distilia is no longer an insider tip.

Across rum, rhum agricole, cognac, armagnac and calvados, our releases are now used as benchmarks - measured against, not overlooked. In a year where Zucker und Zeste tasted fewer spirits but held standards higher than ever, Distilia consistently made the cut.

That is the kind of recognition that cannot be bought - only earned.

Thank You - And What Comes Next

We would like to sincerely thank Hendrik Fröhlich and Zucker und Zeste for their dedication, independence and deep expertise. Reviews like this are invaluable not just for producers, but for the entire spirits culture.

2025 was an exceptional year for Distilia.
And if there is one thing we can promise:

We are only getting started!!!