Over the years I’ve built a small global library of distilled spirits and fortified wines, and the World Cup Knockout Round feels like the perfect excuse to dig back into it - researching the producers, revisiting the bottles, and tasting my way through the bracket. Starting with the June 29th matches, I’ll be recommending one or two spirits for each game, whether they’re already on my shelf or simply deserve a place in the lineup. Click here to view the other World Cup Knockout Round matches. Today's matches for July 1st.
England vs Congo DR
Sipsmith London Dry Gin (England)Sipsmith London Dry Gin is built on a straightforward, classical approach to English gin: a traditional copper‑pot distillation and a recipe centered on clean, expressive botanicals. The distillery uses ten botanicals — including juniper, coriander, lemon peel, orange peel, cassia, cinnamon, orris root, angelica, licorice, and almond — all steeped overnight to extract essential oils before distillation. This method emphasizes clarity and balance rather than modern flavor additions, keeping the profile firmly rooted in the London Dry style.
Production follows a one‑shot method, meaning every botanical goes into the still and the resulting distillate is used as‑is, without blending or redistillation. Distillation takes place in small Christian Carl copper pot stills, where slow runs and manual cuts help preserve juniper structure, citrus lift, and the subtle earthy notes contributed by orris and angelica. The process is intentionally simple: no vapor‑infusion, no post‑distillation adjustments, and no added flavors. It’s a traditional workflow designed to maintain consistency and highlight the raw materials.Belgium vs Senegal
BelgiumBissap (hibiscus juice) is the national drink of Senegal. It is a non-alcoholic beverage made from the dried flowers of the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant, known for its floral, tangy, and refreshing taste, often prepared with mint and sugar.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Laird’s Tenth Generation Bottled in Bond Apple Brandy (United States)It’s almost surreal to think that America’s oldest licensed distillery isn’t a bourbon house or a rye pioneer — it’s Laird & Company, a family‑run New Jersey distillery whose apple spirits have satisfied American palates since the 1700s. The Laird family has distilled through wars, Prohibition, industrialization, and ten generations of stewardship, making their Tenth Generation Apple Brandy a living piece of American history.
The brandy begins with fresh‑pressed apple cider sourced from orchards across the Mid‑Atlantic, then fermented to preserve crisp fruit character and natural acidity. Distillation takes place in traditional copper pot stills, yielding a spirit that balances orchard brightness with depth from concentrated apple skins and seeds. Maturation unfolds in charred American oak, where vanilla, spice, and gentle tannin integrate with the apple‑driven core. The Tenth Generation Bottled in Bond release highlights the family’s ongoing commitment to heritage production — consider it a bridge between colonial‑era applejack and modern American craft distilling.Laird’s Tenth Generation opens with baked apple, cinnamon, toasted oak, and subtle caramel on the nose. The palate is warm and expressive: apple pie, clove, vanilla, citrus peel, and a touch of roasted nut, all carried by the natural fruit sweetness of long‑aged apple brandy. The finish is long with lingering spice, oak, and apple‑skin tannin. This bottling stands as a benchmark American apple brandy — a spirit that captures the continuity of ten generations and the enduring soul of American distillation. Happy 250th.
Gazdina Rakija Vilijamovka - Williams Pear Brandy (Bosnia & Herzegovina)Rakija is the cultural centerpiece for the countries that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia - and that is particularly the case in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this multiethnic country, where the parliamentary republic has a tripartite presidency, rakija is a unifying force and a symbol of hospitality, craftsmanship, and generational continuity. In this landscape, Gazdina has emerged as one of the region’s modern standard‑bearers, blending traditional distillation with orchard‑driven precision.
The Vilijamovka begins with fully ripe Williams pears, harvested at peak aromatic intensity from orchards across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fermentation is slow and temperature‑controlled, preserving delicate esters and the natural pear‑skin aromatics that define great Vilijamovka. Distillation takes place in small copper pot stills, where careful cuts ensure clarity, texture, and unmistakable varietal character. Gazdina’s philosophy is rooted in purity — no added sugar, no artificial flavoring, no shortcuts — just fruit, fermentation, and copper. After distillation, the spirit rests to integrate and soften, allowing the pear’s floral and honeyed notes to fully develop.Gazdina Vilijamovka opens with fresh pear, white blossom, honey, and subtle citrus on the nose. The palate is clean, expressive, and all Williams pear. The palate concentrates on ripe orchard fruit, subtle spice, soft sweetness, and a touch of roundness. The finish is long and fruit‑forward, with lingering pear, floral lift, and a little minerality.
