World Gin Awards 2021 ~ The Gin Queen

Last week the winners of the World Gin Awards 2021 were announced.

These awards are special to me as I was honoured to win Gin Communicator of the Year in 2020, but more importantly, I had the privilege of being a judge this year.

It was a challenge, given COVID meant we had to do the judging virtually. Hundreds of samples were sent to me and we conducted the judging virtually via zoom. I judged alongside gin experts from Germany, Norway, Ireland and of course, the UK. I learned a lot from my peers, which is always fun.

Do awards make a difference? In my recent gin survey, consumers placed awards 3rd (after supporting a small business and reviews) as motivation for purchasing a gin.

For the distillers, though, it’s a different story. While a medal might not increase sales, it might mean that a retailer decides to range them, or importers might contact them with export opportunities. At the very least it’s good publicity.

Personally, every time an Australian gin or distillery wins an award, I give a little (who am I kidding, BIG) cheer, as for a long time our industry was not taken especially seriously. Now, we have a prominent position on the global gin stage, which is fantastic to see.

So, on to this year’s results!

World’s Best Signature Botanical gin

Winner: Four Pillars Olive Leaf gin

What else is there to say on this one? An absolute smash hit since it was released, Olive Leaf gin is the perfect martini gin. One of my Top Australian gins of 2020.

Silver

78 Degrees Better Gin

Bronze

Big Tree Cumquat Infused gin

(available at The Ginporium)

World’s Best Signature Navy Strength gin

Winner: Ester Spirits Strong gin

Founded in Sydney, but made at Craft & Co. in Melbourne, Ester Spirits Strong gin is uses native finger lime, juniper berry, coriander and cardamom as the dominant botanicals culminating in a gin that is big, smooth & spicy.

Gold

South Coast Distillery Breakwater gin

Silver

Old Young’s Common gin

Bronze

Prohibition Liquor Co. Navy gin

Earp Distilling Co. Portside gin

World’s Best Classic Gin

Country Winner: Never Never Distilling Co. Southern Strength gin

Never Never Distilling Co. are going to need a bigger trophy cabinet!

Their overproof Southern Strength gin is a masterclass in juniper-forward overproof gins.

Available at The Ginporium

Gold

Old Young’s GinGin gin

Silver

Archie Rose Distiller’s Strength

Big Tree Elegant Dry Gin

Bronze

Cuprum Distillery Signature gin

78 Degrees Classic gin

Granddad Jack’s Distillery Two Pencils gin

World’s Best Contemporary Gin

Country Winner: Hellfire Bluff Summer Gin

Back to back wins for this gin, having already picked up a Gold Medal in the World Gin Awards 2020.

The team uses brown boronia flower, Tasmanian leatherwood honey and Tasmanian mountain pepper berries to create a spicy, complex gin.

Gold

Hellfire Bluff Distillery Piquant gin

Ester Spirits Dry gin

MY gin Kaleidoscope

Adams Distillery Dry gin

Perth gin

Silver

Giniversity Botanical gin

Lawrenny Van Diemen’s gin

Botanic Australis Northern Gem gin

Forty Spotted Citrus gin

Bronze

Brisbane Distillery Game of Eucalyptus gin

78 Degrees Desert Gin

(Available at The Ginporium)

Prohibition Liquor Co. Bathtub Gin

Bondi gin

Imperial Measure Ounce Signature gin

Old Young’s Six Seasons gin

Botanic Australis Bushfire Smoked gin

World’s Best Flavoured Gin

Country Winner: Brookie’s Slow Gin

Brookie’s Slow gin is a tasty spin on the traditional sloe gins. Local Davidson plums are steeped in gin to produce a tart, crisp gin that is balanced enought to use in cocktails.