As Alexander the Great was bestowing gifts on his friends and comrades, giving away almost all he had before his Eastern Campaign, someone asked him, ‘But what are you leaving for yourself, Alexander?’
‘Hope!’ exclaimed the Macedonian general.
Now, we are not Macedonian commanders. The path that we follow is a purely peaceful one and leads to matters far more elegant than battles amidst the haze of fires. We always look to the future with hope, yet we do not omit to turn round and cast a glance upon our achievements – those brought to us by our endeavours and by the year 2025 already on its way out. No, we are not Macedonian commanders – we are Azerbaijani winemakers!
As we stand on the threshold of 2026 and look back upon the expiring year, we feel special warmth, but not one which spreads over one’s soul from the first sip of a well-aged drink from SAVALAN-ASPI Winery, though. The year 2025 turned out to be a period of remarkable highlights for SAVALAN-ASPI Winery. Each achievement bore witness to that dedication, that skill and that drive which flow from our vineyards in Gabala and fills every bottle we produce.
The industry of spirits and wines revealed outstanding achievements in the ending year. From the continually growing recognition of craft gins world-wide to the resurrection of the traditional distillation methods, 2025 reminded us why we once devoted ourselves to this ancient art. For SAVALAN-ASPI Winery, this has been a year during which our commitment to quality was met with international acclaim, and in such a way that we still catch our breath in quiet pride!
The triumphs began in spring. March brought the company to London Spirits Competition where our distillates spoke for themselves: the gold for Tut Arağı and the silver for Armud Arağı as well as the bronze medals for both Heyva Arağı and Grappolo. The four awards in one go… Not that bad for what we had had the reserve to dub ‘a sporting test’ of what we can do, wouldn’t you say?
But what took place at the IWSC – the International Wine and Spirit Competition held in London since 1969 – was truly out of the ordinary. Not only did our Grappolo won the gold with the impressive 95 points but it also walked away with the Trophy – that rarefied summit of recognition that is intended for the one and only beverage which leaves all the others in its category behind. The best of the best! Meanwhile, Tut Arağı and Armud Arağı won bronze medals, demonstrating once more that our distillates do belong in the most exquisite company!
Eight awards at three international competitions!
Whilst we are celebrating our success, though, we are also looking forwards. December closed the loop when SAVALAN Gin was decorated with a silver medal of The Gin Masters organised by Global Spirits Masters Competition (GSMC) in London. Held annually since 2008, GSMC is the pinnacle of spirits assessment through the strictest blind tastings by independent experts amongst whom there are journalists, buyers, bartenders and so forth – those people, in short, who are free from all bias and burdened only by professional expertise. Well, they did not choose SAVALAN Gin because of who we are but, rather, for what we have created – a London Dry Gin with an unmistakably, distinctive Azerbaijani soul!
This acclaim proves that our fusion of British traditions of gin-making with the wealth of Azerbaijani resources resonates far beyond the country’s borders. But no award is a finishing line; instead, it is a signpost pointing the way to new horizons…
And to the year 2026 we say this: we are ready! We are ready to push boundaries, surprise and continue the tradition of excellence which the year 2025 confirmed so splendidly.
The best is yet ahead, we seem to believe.
The past is experience and the future is hope; the present, meanwhile, is that moment when a marvellous beverage is poured into the glass. We in SAVALAN-ASPI Winery are of the opinion that hope is the first that is born together with each sun-rise over the vineyards in the valley of Savalan. Alexander left hope for himself before his campaign in the East and we are leaving hope for ourselves before our campaign in the year 2026. Only, unlike the commander, we also have excellent gin in stock! Well, you do know what to do with a bottle of SAVALAN Gin, don’t you?
Raise your glasses with us as we see the year 2025 off and welcome the year 2026 all full of hopes!
Best regards,
Fuad Seyidaliyev and Arif Rahimov
Founders and Co-owners of SAVALAN-ASPI Winery