The finalists in the 5th annual Scottish Gin Awards have been announced with 67 producers and 223 gins, all distilled in Scotland progressing to the finals of the national competition.
A total of 320 entered gins were assessed in a blind tasting and marked across a range of quality standards as part of a wide-ranging judging session. The judging event was managed by international sensory management consultancy, Cara Technology.
The Scottish Gin Awards is one of the UK’s most comprehensive and highly regarded gin competitions as it assesses both taste and business performance. A 45-strong judging panel consists of some of the UK’s foremost experts in gin distilling and running gin businesses.
It is an all- island final as four Hebridean distilleries are in contention for the top award of the night, Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Contract Bottlers Glasgow Ltd. They are Isle of Barra Distillery, Isle of Harris Distillery, Isle of Skye Distillery and North Uist Distillery.
4 new taste categories have been created in the programme with new awards presented for Best Pink Gin, Best Festive Gin and the Flavoured Gin category has been split with new categories for Citrus and Berry Flavoured. The most popular taste category is still London Dry Gin of the Year with 47 gins in the finals.
Only 60 % of entered product makes it through to the finals and only the top three products in each category presented with medals, making the Scottish Gin Awards the most highly sought after of all drink’s competitions.
The Scottish Gin Awards is chaired by Adam Hardie, Partner and Head of Food and Drink at accountancy firm, Johnston Carmichael. He commented;
The quality of gin produced in Scotland continues to be world class. To make it to the finals is a huge achievement and all these gin businesses which highlight the quality and diversity of the Scottish gin industry. It is particularly impressive given the challenges of the last eighteen months that real resilience, innovation, and creativity has been shown in the competition entries. Congratulation to all the finalists and we look forward to the live event in October.”
All winners will be announced at an industry event and gourmet, gin-themed dinner on Wednesday 27 October 2021 at the Glasgow Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. Tickets cost £150 + VAT per person or £1500 + VAT for a table of 10. Digital tickets to watch the event live from home are also available. For full details and book tickets visit www.scottishginawards.co.uk
#scotginawards
Full List of Finalists:
Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year sponsored by Contract Bottlers Glasgow
Isle of Barra Distillers
Isle of Harris Distillers
Isle of Skye Distillers
North Uist Distillery Co.
Best Newcomer
Dark Art Distillery
Isle of Cumbrae Distillery
Perth Gin Distillery
Purist Gin
Raer Jackton Distillery
Rhidorroch Distillery
Excellence in Sustainability sponsored by Summerhall Drinks Lab
Arbikie Distilling
Electric Spirit Co.
Port of Leith Distillery
Excellence in Branding sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
Biggar Gin
Boe Gin
Dark Art Distillery
Eden Mill
El:Gin
Fidra Gin
Isle of Harris Distillers
Linlithgow Distillery
Mackintosh Gin
McQueen Gin
Secret Garden
Best Digital Experience sponsored by Wolffe
Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
Eden Mill
Electric Spirit Co.
Isle of Harris
Mackintosh Gin
Pixel Spirits
Sales Team of the Year sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink
Isle of Barra Gin Distillery
Lussa Gin
South Loch Gin
Excellence in Social Media
Colonsay Beverages
Edinburgh Gin
Isle of Harris Distillers
Little Brown Dog
Retailer of the Year
Aldi
Billingtons of Lenzie
Craft 56
Highland Liquor Company
Product Development Team of the Year
Badachro Distillery
City of Aberdeen Distillery
Eden Mill
Isle of Bute Gin
Linlithgow Distillery
Tayport Distillery
TASTE CATEGORIES
London Dry Gin of the Year sponsored by Vetro Elite
Badachro Gin
Balmoral Estates Ballochbuie Gin
Beinn an Tuirc Ceann Loch Citrus Gin
Beinn an Tuirc Kintyre Gin
Ben Lomond London Dry Gin
Black Thistle London Dry Gin
Boe Scottish Gin
Caorunn Small Batch Scottish Gin
City of Aberdeen Distillery Aberdeen Gin
City of Aberdeen Distillery Fresh Gin
City of Aberdeen Distillery Lemon Zingle Gin
City of Aberdeen Distillery the Wandering Gin
Crafty Scottish Distillers Hills & Harbour Gin
Dark Art Distillery, Sky Garden Gin
Edinburgh Gin 1670
Edinburgh Gin Classic
Edinburgh Gin Seaside
Farmhouse Gin
Fassfern Dry Highland Gin
Fidra Gin
Glasgow Distillery Makar Original Dry Gin
Glaswegin Premium Gin
Great Glen
Inspirited Original
Isle of Bute Calums Cabin Gin
Isle of Bute Gin
Isle of Harris Gin
Isle of Skye Misty Isle Cill Targhlain
Kinrara Artist Edition 'Ginny'
Lenzie Gin
Lind & Lime Gin
LinGin
Mackintosh London Dry Gin
North Uist Distillery Downpour Gin
Old Poison Selkie
Orkney Distilling Northwest Passage Expedition Gin
Peebles Hydro 1881 London Dry
Persie Labrador Gin
Perth Gin Original
Pixel Spirits Devil's Staircase
Pixel Spirits Drookit Piper
Purist Art Gin
Redcastle Handcrafted Scottish Gin
Seven Crofts
Solway Spirits Dry Gin
Tear Drop Gin
The Pentland Still King's Hill Gin
Distilled Gin of the Year sponsored by Joseph Flach & Son
Bloodline Spirits Rule Gin
Colonsay Beverages Distillers Cut Gorse Gin
Colonsay Beverages Wild Island Botanic Gin- Distillers Cut
Eden Mill Golf Gin
Electric Spirit Co. Achroous Gin
Inverclyde Gin
Isle of Bute Gorse Gin
Isle of Bute Heather Gin
Isle of Bute Oyster Gin
Isle of Cumbrae Nostalgin
Isle of Skye Distillers Misty Isle Gin
Kinrara Artist Edition 'Struan'
Kinrara Highland Dry
Lanark Distillery Corra Linn Handcrafted Scottish Gin
Little Brown Dog Spirits LBD GIN Unlimited Edition
Lunun Gin
Lussa Gin
McQueen Highland Dry Gin
Pixel Spirits Scottish Chanterelle Gin
Purist Gin Purist Marble
RAER Jackton Gin
Rhidorroch Distillery Loch Achall Gin
Roehill Springs Distillery Gin No 5
Tayport Distillery Scots Pine Gin
The Biggar Gin Company Original Recipe Biggar Gin
The Jaunty Camper Gin
The Wee Farm Distillery Drovers Gin
Tobermory Limited Edition Mountain Gin
Toll House Spirits Toll House Gin
High Strength Gin of the Year sponsored by The Gin Cooperative
Badachro 57 Storm Strength
Beinn an Tuirc Tarbert Legbiter Navy Strength Gin
Caorunn Highland Strength
Edinburgh Gin Cannonball
Inspirited Navy Strength Spiced
Inverclyde Gin Port Strength
Peebles Hydro 1881 Honours Navy Strength
Purist Gin Purist Black 57
Seven Crofts Fisherman's Strength
Stirling Distillery Battle Strength
The Biggar Gin Company Biggar Strength
The Wee Farm Distillery Farmers Strength Drovers Gin
Berry Flavoured Gin of the Year
Ben Lomond Infused Blackberry & Gooseberry Gin
Ben Lomond Infused Raspberry & Elderflower Gin
Boe Bramble Gin
Boe Raspberry & Sweet Basil Gin
Caorunn Scottish Raspberry Gin
City of Aberdeen Distillery, Scottish Bramble Gin
Eden Mill, Forager Gin
Edinburgh Gin Gooseberry & Elderflower Gin
Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Gin
Fassfern Distillery Bramble Highland Gin
Glasgow Distillery Makar Cherry Gin
Glaswegin Distilling Co Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin
Inspirited, Summer Berries and Hibiscus
Lanark Distillery Corra Linn Handcrafted Scottish Raspberry Gin
Toll House Spirits Redcastle Raspberry & Pomegranate Gin
Citrus Flavoured Gin of the Year
Aldi Eidyn Botancial Gin
Ben Lomond Infused Blood Orange & Pink Grapefruit
Eden Mill Golden Lore Gin
El:gin 2020 - a year to remember
Linlithgow Distillery LinGin Colours Yuzu
McQueen Gin Citron Gin
Persie Zesty Citrus Gin
Secret Garden Distillery Lemon Verbena Gin
South Loch Citrus & Lime Flower
South Loch Sicilian Lemon & Ginger
Toll House Spirits Redcastle Blood Orange & Rhubarb Gin
Herb & Spice Flavoured Gin of the Year
Aldi Toradh Rhubarb & Ginger Gin
City of Aberdeen Distillery Chamomile Gin
Eden Mill Serendipity Gin
Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger Gin
El:gin Speyside Heather Honey
Kinrara Distiller's Edition Rose & Cardamom
McQueen Gin Five Chilli Gin
Secret Garden Distillery Elderflower & Jasmine Gin
South Loch Spiced Cranberry & Clementine
Flavoured Gin of the Year
City of Aberdeen Distillery Choc Mint Gin
Eden Mill Forbidden Gin
Eden Mill Passion Gin
Eden Mill Rosa Rosa Gin
LinGin Colours Coconut
Peebles Hydro 1881 Tiffin Gin
Secret Garden Distillery Pinot Noir Gin
Secret Garden Distillery Apothecary Rose Gin
Solway Spirits Tropical Gin
The Wee Farm Distillery Clydesdale Gin
Toll House Spirits Redcastle Passion Fruit & Mango Gin
Pink Gin of the Year
Aldi, Toradh Premium Pink Gin
Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Kintyre Pink Gin
Eden Mill Love Gin
Isle of Skye Distillers Misty Isle Pink Gin
McQueen Gin Blackcurrant & Raspberry Gin
North Uist Distillery Downpour Pink Grapefruit Gin
Perth Gin Perth Pink
Tyree Gin Hebridean Pink Gin
Old Tom Gin of the Year
Eden Mill Distiller's Choice: Oak Old Tom Gin
Edinburgh Gin Old Tom
Glasgow Distillery Makar Old Tom Gin
Mackintosh Pineapple & Grapefruit Old Tom Gin
Old Poison Exotic
Orkney Distilling Beyla Honey and Raspberry Old Tom Gin
South Loch Black Raspberry Old Tom
South Loch Rhubarb New Tom
Gin Liqueur of the Year
Aldi Toradh Raspberry Gin Liqueur
Aldi Toradh Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur
Eden Mill Raspberry, Vanilla and Meringue
Eden Mill Spiced Rhubarb Crumble
Edinburgh Gin Orange Blossom & Mandarin
Edinburgh Gin Strawberry & Pink Pepper
El:gin Moray Berry
El:gin Moray Mocha
Lenzie Gin Liqueur
Lussa Gin Bramble Liqueur
North Uist Distillery Downpour Sloe & Bramble Cask Aged Gin
Redcastle Raspberry & Pomegranate
Redcastle Strawberry & Elderflower
Solway Spirits Raspberry Ripple Gin Liqueur
Stirling Distillery Tropical Triumph
Festive Gin of the Year sponsored by Cara Technology
Edinburgh Gin Mulled Gin Liqueur
El:gin Gin-gle Gin
Isle of Skye Misty Isle Mulled Christmas Gin
Perth Gin Winter Spiced Liqueur
Pixel Spirits Scottish Christmas Gin
Cask Gin of the Year
Eden Mill Distiller's Choice: French Burgundy White Wine Cask Aged Gin
Eden Mill Distiller's Choice: Italian Amarone Red Wine Cask Aged Gin
Glasgow Distillery Makar Mulberry Aged Gin
Glasgow Distillery Makar Oak Aged Gin
Isle of Bute Oaked Gin
Linlithgow Distillery LinGin Cask Aged
Pixel Spirits Scottish Oak Aged Gin