OUR
LABELS
A new national label
As part of its mission to promote Luxembourgish spirits, the Union Nationale des Distillateurs Agricoles Luxembourgeois (hereinafter “UNDAL”) has developed a Label for spirits (spirits, liqueurs & bitters, and gins). ).
A quality label aims for excellence, guides consumer choices and encourages innovation. Read the objectives and main missions of the Label below.
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Precise objectives to structure the new Label
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Increase consumer confidence in the production and marketing of alcoholic beverages in the region
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Guarantee the production and marketing of the highest quality spirits, liqueurs and gins
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Enforce the principles of good professional practice and the standards defined in the Label specifications
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Increase added value by diversifying the products covered by the Label
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Promotion of high quality regional products in the field of spirits, liqueur and gin production nationally and internationally
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Coordinate analyzes and guarantee product quality
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Promote spirits bearing the Label and ensure communication with the general national and international public
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Assist members with valuable advice and support them in the different stages of their activity
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Protect local know-how and maintain strong and competent activity
The main missions to support its members
Criteria
membership are as follows:
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Any entity with its headquarters in Luxembourg can apply for a partnership
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Production and bottling must take place in Luxembourg
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Items bearing the Label must be available on the local market
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The selected Partner must have all the necessary authorizations to carry out its activities
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The Partner must bring real added value to the production chain
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A company requesting use of the Label must have existed for at least twelve months
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The Owner reserves the right to refuse a partnership application that does not comply with the values of the Label or the specifications.
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Fruits, grains and herbs must be prepared, crushed or macerated and distilled in Luxembourg.
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The products must be marketable in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/787.
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Product labeling must comply with Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.
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Only renewable, biodegradable or reusable materials are used for contact and packaging materials
A certificate of excellence
With a view to stimulating continuous development and the search for superior quality of spirits products, the Owner of the Label has implemented a variation of the basic Label. Primeurs are thus a subgroup of the Label which represents the elite of products bearing the Label.
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All products bearing the primeur label obtained a minimum of 14 points out of 20 possible points during an organoleptic examination by the tasting jury.
Spirits
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In total, 80% of the fruits processed for the production of eaux-de-vie must come from the region (i.e. within a 250km radius of the head office of the label owner). The producer must issue a sworn declaration that this is respected throughout his operation and maintain an up-to-date book of the raw materials used.
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Brandies and spirits come from natural fermentation or maceration and are made exclusively from fruits or grains.
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The alcohol content of brandies and spirits must be between 40.0% vol. and 50.0% vol.
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Brandies and spirits may only be mixed with an award-winning brandy or spirit of the same type according to these specifications.
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Although there are no regulatory limit values for the total acidity content for spirits, the Spirits of Luxembourg label requires a maximum content between 50 and 250 mg per 100 ml of pure alcohol depending on the species. Spirits with a high total acidity content are difficult to digest and reduce the consumer's enjoyment, hence the interest in minimizing the total acidity for quality spirits.
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In addition to the limit values for methanol and hydrocyanic acid prescribed in Regulation (EU) 2019/787, additional limit values or minimum contents apply to spirits:
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Added sugar
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Total acidity
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Ethyl acetate
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Higher alcohols
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The values are specific to the variety and can be found in the table in Annex E of the specifications
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Each batch of brandy and spirits is subject to an organoleptic examination by the tasting jury according to the DLG scheme, according to which the product must obtain a minimum of 14 points to be awarded.
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At least 15% of the alcohol used for the production of fruit liqueurs must be alcohol resulting from natural fermentation exclusively of the fruit in question unless other European regulations in force.
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Honey liqueurs (Hunnegdrëpp) and herbal liqueurs can be made with alcohol of agricultural origin, grain, apple, brandy and other non-fruity bases.
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The alcohol content of liqueurs must be between 18.0% vol. and 40.0% vol. . The minimum alcoholic strength by volume of a spirit drink with a bitter taste is 15%.
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Liqueurs can be flavored with foods or food extracts from the named products. Flavoring with artificial flavors is not permitted.
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A spirit drink with a bitter taste or bitter is a spirit drink with a predominantly bitter taste, produced by flavoring ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin or distillate of agricultural origin or both with flavoring substances or flavoring preparations or both .
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Methanol is a toxic organic compound that forms during alcoholic fermentation. Community regulations have set thresholds limiting methanol in spirits but do not require it for liqueurs. However, in order to guarantee consumers products with a low methanol content, the Spirits of Luxembourg label requires for liqueurs a maximum methanol content of 500mg per 100ml of pure alcohol.
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Regardless of the batches produced, the liqueurs are organoleptically examined once a year by the tasting jury according to the DLG scheme, according to which the product must reach the minimum number of 14 points to be or remain awarded.
Liqueurs &
the bitters
Gins
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The alcohol content of gin must be between 40.0% vol. and 60.0% vol.
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The gin must meet the requirements of Category 21 Distilled Gin of Regulation (EU) 2019/787 of the European Parliament
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Gin is made exclusively by distilling ethyl alcohol with the addition of juniper berries and other natural botanicals, with the juniper flavor remaining predominant.
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Methanol is a toxic organic compound that forms during alcoholic fermentation. Community regulations have set thresholds limiting methanol in spirits but do not require it for gins. However, in order to guarantee consumers products with a low methanol content, the Spirits of Luxembourg label requires for gins a maximum methanol content of 500mg per 100ml of pure alcohol.
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Regardless of the batches produced, the gin is examined organoleptically once a year by the tasting jury according to the DLG scheme, according to which the product must obtain the minimum number of 14 points to be or remain awarded.