The best of Carpathian Quality
For the third consecutive year, the Carpathian Quality international fruit and grain spirits competition brought together some of Europe’s top still houses, finest craft distilleries, and private makers in Slovakia.
The Carpathian Quality 2025 competition, organised by Spiš Civic Association in cooperation with the Slovak Order of the Knights of Distillates, culminated in an evaluation ceremony at Spišská Pálenica Distillery in Stará Ľubovňa, in the northern Spiš region of Slovakia.
This year, the competition attracted a record-breaking total of 794 spirits samples, submitted by 26 distilleries, 267 fruit growers’ distilleries, and individual producers. The event highlighted the quality and tradition of fruit and grain spirits, merging craftsmanship with modern techniques and international standards. To showcase both small and large producers, the competition was divided into two main categories: spirits from fruit distilleries and private producers, and those produced by commercial distilleries.
Each spirit was assessed by a panel of expert tasters from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Moravia, and various other European countries during a blind-tasting session. Winners were selected based on criteria including aroma purity, flavour harmony, variety, authenticity, and overall impression.
Among commercial distilleries, well-known brands with a stable presence in international markets took home the top prizes. The prestigious Best Carpathian Quality Award was given to the rare Nestville Single Barrel Wheat Whisky, produced by the Slovak Nestville Distillery.
Meanwhile, Lechmann was awarded the Champion of the Competition title for its cherry brandy.
The winners in the Fruit Growers and Private Producers category stood out among the numerous entries submitted. The awards recognised distilleries and producers from various regions of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Vladimír Tomaštík from Strážnice won first place in the plum brandy category, while Juraj Antalík from Rimavská Sobota took top honours in the pear spirit category. Tomáš Hromek from Mikulčice successfully defended his title for the best apricot brandy, and Ivan Klučka from Veľká nad Veličkou produced the highest-scoring apple spirit.
Several producers also impressed the judges in the Other Blends category, successfully translating regional traditions into exceptional results. Radovan Hýža from Uhorský Ostroh took top spot in the Fruit Growers’ Distilleries category with his pear spirit.
The Carpathian Quality Trophy was awarded to Heaven and Hell from Slovenia for their Kocbek London Dry Gin. Furthermore, several other exceptional products received awards in their respective categories. These included plum brandy from GeoID, pear brandy from Lechmann, apricot brandy from Lakla, cherry spirit from Raspenava Distillery, and juniper brandy from Gas Familia.
The international Carpathian Quality competition has once again showcased that Slovak spirits rank among the best in Europe, appealing to both seasoned experts and a wider audience. Each sample tells the unique story of its master distiller, highlighting family recipes passed down through generations, as well as modern techniques and experimental approaches favoured by younger producers.
Spiš, as the epicentre of the event, has become a place where tradition, expertise, and passion converge. This demonstrates that distilled spirits are much more than just a drink; they are an integral part of the region’s cultural heritage.
