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Portfolio Profile - Preiss Imports
HENRY PREISS of Preiss Imports has been bringing the spirits of the world to the United States for close to five decades. After joining his father’s firm in 1974, Preiss helped grow the business and eventually decided in the 90s to focus on premium spirits. Today, he and his daughter Nikki Preiss, who holds both business and culinary degrees, continue to search the world for exciting new discoveries, especially in the whisk(e)y category.
Being an independent, familyowned distributor has its benefits, including the ability to pick and choose who they represent. “The luxury is that we have no partners or investors,” Preiss says, “and we get to choose brands we like that are interesting and very high in quality.”
The company focuses on products that speak to quality and integrity, always with an eye on differentiating it in the marketplace. This differentiating could be represented by a brand’s history or even the kinds of ingredients used to make the spirit. One example is a surprising rye from the Spreewald in Leipzig, Germany, Stork House, which is considered one of the world’s great straight rye whiskeys thanks to the best rye grain in the world grown in the region. This rye also happens to be used by many United States distilleries.
For whiskey, time is key to a great product. “Whiskey takes time to create magic,” Preiss says, “and we take our time finding exceptional examples in the categories we distribute.” Preiss’s whiskey portfolio spans Ireland, Scotland, and the States, as well as more off the beaten path destinations like the island of Hven between Denmark and Sweden.
all in good time By Michael Tulipan
PREISS IMPORTS WHISKEY PORTFOLIO REPRESENTS TIME-HONORED QUALITY AND INTEGRITY.
The Spirit of Hven Distillery has been operating on the island of the same name in the Öresund Strait off Sweden since 2008. Here the local organic grain makes a fine base for whiskey. The distillery produces a range of products, but the signature brown spirit is the Hvenus Rye Whisky. Made from a mash bill of 78.6% rye, 11.9% wheat, 4.8% corn and 4.8% grain, the spirit is a blend of 42 casks that have been aged for a minimum of six years.
Ireland occupies a prominent position in the Preiss portfolio, offering tradition turned innovation. Sliabh Liag Distillers have set out to reclaim the nearly lost distilling heritage of Donegal County with a line of whiskeys under the label “Silkie.” Meanwhile, Currach Kombu Cask Aged Single Malt showcases the union of land and sea with triple distilled Irish malted barley that is aged in ex-bourbon casks and finished in kombu seaweed charred new oak casks.
Scotch devotees should seek out the Distiller’s Art line, which highlights single barrel, cask strength single malts from various distilleries including Ben Nevis, Caol Ila and Benrinnes. Each bottling is meant to highlight a region or distillery.
For bartenders, Preiss knows it’s important to offer something that stands out.
