More silver for Russell tipple

The world of fine liqueurs had probably never heard of Russell 12 months ago, but it certainly did at the World Beverage Competition in Florida in February. Eva and Fabian Kammerer's FAQ Lemon won a silver medal at that event, the biggest in the world with more than 20,000 entries - where only four medals - platinum, gold, silver and bronze - were awarded in each category.

And if that didn't register, Fabian and Eva have done it again courtesy of the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago, which has awarded it a silver medal (in the fruit liqueur category) for a score of 88/100, two shy of gold.

Fabian said two silver medals in one year wasn't a bad effort for what was very much a boutique business, but he and Eva were working on expanding it.

"We have an outlet in Sydney now, and several in Melbourne, and from this week we are included in the portfolio of the Liquor Centre Group. That's the biggest liquor shop chain in New Zealand, with more than 200 outlets throughout the country."

The couple were well into the process of acquiring an off-licence, which would enable them to sell FAQ Lemon at their shop in Russell and via their website (www.faqlemon.com). And a gift version would go on the market in early December.

FAQ Lemon is made by Eva and Fabian's company, Sightwise Ltd, with very little in the way of technology. The lemon juice comes from Pukekohe - even on a small scale squeezing enough lemons to meet demand would be an impossible undertaking for two people, Fabian said - but every batch is made and bottled "by hand".

FAQ stands for Fruitilicious Alcohol Quencher, but, Fabian said, had mainly been chosen as a very familiar abbreviation to those who frequent the internet, representing Frequently Asked Questions.