PHOTOS, VIDEO: Hungarian gin won prestigious award at Gastro Oscar in London
Zsolnay gin, the result of a joint venture between the world-famous Zsolnay porcelain manufacturer and Búzavirág gin, has achieved an outstanding rating. It received two gold stars at the Great Taste Awards in London.
Prestigious recognition
Turizmus.com wrote that this was the first time the Hungarian Zsolnay gin was presented in front of an international jury of 400 professionals. The drink was blind tasted, thus the stunning appearance of the product did not influence the board’s decision. Therefore, both partners are equally proud of the amazing result. Péter Bárány, the founder of Búzavirág gin, said:
We are immensely pleased with the result, as we thought that the flavour – influenced by the spices inherent in Mecsek – would be most suited to Hungarians’ tastes, but it turns out it is also well-received internationally.
According to the Zsolnay Búzavirág Gin’s website, the main characteristics of the beverage are chamomile, wild ginger, lemon peel and orange peel. The taste was inspired by the spices found in Mecsek, a mountain range in southern Hungary. The gin has floral citrusy notes, and it is recommended to be paired with Indian tonic or tonic water.
The brand
The Búzavirág brand has been around for years in Hungary, making their handmade gin one of the best-known in the country. The gin comes with a modern flavour, a successful marriage of 24 components. The original Búzavirág Gin has a vibrant blue colour, which mirrors the hues of the cornflower blossoms. As the manufacturers revealed, home-grown wildflowers, among other natural ingredients, dominate the unique taste of their product. The most significant ingredients of the gin are juniper berry, linden blossom, acacia, orange blossom, allspice and peppermint.
Conquering the world
The Great Taste Awards, the food industry’s highest honour, are colloquially known as the Oscars of gastronomy. Thus, winning this prestigious accolade serves as the ultimate feedback to the brand. There are also talks about the export of this heavenly beverage. So far, the graciously packaged drink has been available at the Budapest airport and a number of Hungarian restaurants in downtown frequented by tourists. In addition, you might be able to savour Búzavirág Gin in the bars of a handful of five-star hotels in Budapest. However, after such exceptional results, it has been revealed that the brand owners are now taking to the international market. The gorgeous painted motif of the famous Zsolnay cornflower depicted on the elegant glass bottle already adds an essence of luxury before you even take the first sip of this delicious nectar.
