Emma All the winners from this year’s The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023
The results are out for this year’s The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023 and it was a pleasure to help judge. Six finalists in each of the main gin style award categories were tasted with three eventual winners taking home gold, silver and bronze awards.
The judges assessed key elements, including appearance, nose, palate, finish and mouthfeel, both neat and served as a gin and tonic. Judges were provided with Walter Gregor’s Tonic Water to ensure all gin and tonic samples were judged using the same tonic.
Scottish Gin of the Year Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, across all categories.
Scottish Gin of the Year Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Achroous (Electric Spirit Company)
Silver Award – Downpour Scottish Dry Gin (North Uist Distillery)
Bronze Award – Crosskirk Bay Gin (North Point Distillery)
Scottish Gin and Tonic Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste as a gin and tonic, across all categories. Category sponsored by Walter Gregor’s.
Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Inverness Gin (Great Glen Distillery)
Silver Award – Achroous (Electric Spirit Company)
Bronze Award – Crosskirk Bay Gin (North Point Distillery)
Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2023 – sponsored by Walter Gregor’s; premium Scottish tonic.
Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2023 Winners
Scottish Gin Packaging Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for packaging, across all categories. Category sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons.
Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)
Silver Award – Arkh-Angell Storm Strength Orkney Gin (Orkney Distilling/Kirkjuvagr)
Bronze Award – LoneWolf Original (BrewDog Distilling)
New Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners
New Scottish Gin Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, released in the last 12 months, across all categories. Category sponsored by Vetroelite.
New Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Inverness Gin (Great Glen Distillery)
Silver Award – King’s Hill Rhubarb and Raspberry (The Pentland Still)
Bronze Award – Crossbill Green Dry Gin (Crossbill Distillery)
Contribution to Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winner
Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Gin Award is given to a brand, business or individual who has had a positive and tangible impact on the Scottish Gin category. The winner of this award is selected by The Gin Cooperative.
Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winner is: Martin Murray, Dunnet Bay Distillers ‘Over the last five years, one name has come up in conversation a lot. And in a really positive way. We have lost count the number of times we’ve heard how Martin has helped others by providing distilling insight or guidance around HRMC regulations, email exchanges about where to find the best Negroni in a certain city or just a general chat about the Scottish Gin category.
As the co-founder of one of the early Highland based gin brands, Martin Murray along with his wife and co-founder Claire, acted as a great example of what a remote Scottish distillery could achieve. Often leading the way with new export deals and distribution opportunities for the Rock Rose Scottish Gin brand, Martin has been at the forefront of the true craft distilling revolution that’s taken shape in Scotland over the last decade.
Humble and hard working, whilst balancing family life and growing an international Scottish Gin brand is no mean feat at the best of times. But to always leave the door open for advice and helping others in the industry so everyone benefits, really does go above and beyond in business and in life. We have benefited from his help, guidance, generosity, kindness and support whenever we’ve needed to pick his brains.”
London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners
London Dry Scottish Gin Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, in the London Dry category.
London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Achroous (Electric Spirit Company)
Silver Award – Downpour Scottish Dry Gin (North Uist Distillery)
Bronze Award – Crosskirk Bay Gin (North Point Distillery)
Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners
Distilled Scottish Gin Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, in the Distilled category. Category sponsored by JFS (Joseph Flach & Sons).
Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Persie Zesty Citrus Gin (Persie Distillery)
Silver Award – LBD Aberdeenshire Foraged Gin Unlimited Edition (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
Bronze Award – Misty Isle ‘Salty & Sweet’ Gin (Isle of Skye Distillers)
Bathtub Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners
Bathtub Scottish Gin Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, in the Bathtub category.
Bathtub Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Mikkelmas (Orkney Gin Company)
Silver Award – McLean’s Something Blue (McLean’s Gin)
Bronze Award – McLean’s Winter Spiced (McLean’s Gin)
Old Tom Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners
Old Tom Scottish Gin Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, in the OId Tom category.
Old Tom Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Rhubarb Old Tom (Orkney Gin Company)
Silver Award – Downpour Pink Grapefruit Gin (North Point Distillery)
Bronze Award – House of Elrick Old Tom Gin (House of Elrick)
Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners
Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, in the Navy Strength category.
Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – LBD Latitude (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
Silver Award – Edinburgh Gin Cannonball (Edinburgh Gin)
Bronze Award – House of Elrick Navy Strength Gin (House of Elrick)
Flavoured Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners
Flavoured Scottish Gin Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, in the Flavoured category.
Flavoured Scottish Gin Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – King’s Hill Rhubarb and Raspberry (The Pentland Still)
Silver Award – Coorie Gin Winter Spiced Pear (The Wee Farm Distillery)
Bronze Award – Great Glen Pink Gin (Great Glen Distillery)
Industry Judges Award 2023 Winners
Industry Judges Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, scored by the Industry Judging panel, across all categories. Category sponsored by Shine PR.
Industry Judges Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Downpour Pink Grapefruit Gin (North Uist Distillery)
Silver Award – Arkh-Angell Storm Strength Orkney Gin (Orkney Distilling/Kirkjuvagr)
Bronze Award – Misty Isle ‘Classically Aromatic’ Gin (Isle of Skye Distillers)
Industry Judges Award 2023 – sponsored by Shine PR; the communications agency for food & drink, travel, tourism and hospitality.
Community Judges Award 2023 Winners
Community Judges Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, scored by the Community Judging panel, across all categories.
Community Judges Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Downpour Scottish Dry Gin (North Uist Distillery)
Silver Award – Misty Isle ‘Salty & Sweet’ Gin (Isle of Skye Distillers)
Bronze Award – LoneWolf Original (BrewDog Distilling)
Consumer Judges Award 2023 Winners
Consumer Judges Award is given to the three Scottish Gins which scored the highest number of points for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic and packaging, scored by the Consumer Judging panel, across all categories. Category sponsored by ScottishGin.com.
Consumer Judges Award 2023 Winners are:
Gold Award – Achroous (Electric Spirit Company)
Silver Award – Inverness Gin (Great Glen Distillery)
Bronze Award – Mikkelmas (Orkney Gin Company)
