At the World Drinks Awards gala held at the Waldorf Hotel in London, the company’s Aperitivo Spritz was named the World’s Best Wine-Based Cocktail.

The achievement follows the brand's success last year, when its Gin and Tonic pre-mixed beverage also claimed a world title.

Launched in 2007 by Paragraph Publishing, the World Drinks Awards evaluates high-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages alongside packaging design.

This year's competition saw nearly five thousand entries from more than sixty countries assessed by a panel of international industry experts.

The Hungarian premium Aperitivo Spritz secured a gold medal in its specific category before being selected from the shortlisted finalists as the absolute global winner in the Premix Wine Cocktail division.

This consecutive win places the Zamárdi-based company, located near Lake Balaton, in an exclusive tier within the ready-to-drink (RTD) market.

Since 2015, only three companies globally have managed to win world championship titles in consecutive years with entirely different products.

Despite launching just three years ago, the Carly's brand has already accumulated eighteen international professional accolades.

The brand's trajectory marks a significant pivot for the family business, which spent twenty years focusing strictly on traditional Hungarian pálinka distillation.

The turning point occurred during the pandemic when widespread hospitality closures forced the owners to diversify.

Following a creative concept from co-founder Bianka Czomba, the company shifted toward canned, ready-to-drink premium cocktails.

The venture later gained mainstream traction and critical financial backing on the Hungarian television format of the investment show Shark Tank, where investor Albert Sárospataki acquired a stake to fund further development.

The brand's award portfolio has grown rapidly over the last two years. In 2025, Carly's took home two gold and two silver medals from the Berlin International Spirit Competition, alongside three golds and a silver from the World Drinks Awards.

This year, the company has already registered eight distinctions, which include two silver and two bronze medals from the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) in addition to the recent top honor in London.

According to co-founder Zsolt Beliczay, the production process relies on extensive experimentation rather than standardized formulas, with the team testing variations until meeting strict internal quality benchmarks.

The award-winning Aperitivo Spritz required months of research and tasting to source a specific partner winery capable of providing the necessary base.

The final recipe uses exclusively natural flavors and features a reduced sugar content aimed at quality-conscious consumers.

While the premium ready-to-drink segment remains an emerging market within Hungary, the founders anticipate that sustained international validation will help elevate the brand's domestic presence and retail partnerships.

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its geographic reach, with preparations underway to introduce the Hungarian brand to major North American professional competitions.

Consumers across Hungary can expect to see the award-winning Aperitivo Spritz appearing on retail shelves nationwide over the coming weeks, continuing a trend of Balaton-regional products gaining international recognition.

Photo: Carly's Club

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