Now in its third successful year, the 2019 Scottish Gin Awards is the annual industry celebration of Scottish Gins made in Scotland and the finalists have recently been announced. Covering a growing number of categories, the judging process took place in Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh at the end of May 2019.
Gins were blind tasted by a 20 strong panel of industry figures and were tasted under strict conditions managed by the competition’s technical consultants, sensory management experts, Cara Technology. In total, the panel reviewed 173 gins that were entered with 117 gins progressing to the final stage and a total of 65 companies in the running to win awards this year.
The 2019 Scottish Gin Award finalists are…
Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year sponsored by ALDI
- Crafty Distillery (Hills & Harbour Gin)
- Dunnet Bay Distillery (Rock Rose Gin)
- Edinburgh Gin Distillery (Edinburgh Gin)
- McQueen Gin Distillery (McQueen Gin)
Best Newcomer sponsored by Kimia UK
- Badvo Distillery
- Fidra Gin
- Glaswegin Distilling Co
- GlenWyvis Distillery
- Ice and Fire Distillery
- The Pentland Still
- The Port of Leith Distillery
- The Wee Farm Distillery
Growth Business of the Year sponsored by Halewood
- Edinburgh Gin
- Electric Spirit Co.
- Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- Isle of Harris Distillers
- McQueen Gin
- Redcastle Spirits
- The Shetland Distillery Company
Innovation of the Year sponsored by MacRoberts
- Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
- Crafty Distillery
- John Crabbie & Co
- Loch Ness Spirits
- Lussa Drinks Company
- Pickering’s Gin
- The Borders Distillery
- Wee Hemp Spirits
Exporter of the Year sponsored by Forth Ports
- Dornoch Distillery Company
- Glasgow Distillery Company
- Isle of Harris Distillers
Best Marketing Campaign sponsored by Orb Group
- Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
- Eden Mill
- Edinburgh Gin
- Mackintosh Gin
- McLean’s Gin
- McQueen Gin
Excellence in Branding sponsored by McLaren Packaging
- Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
- Crafty Distillery
- Eden Mill
- Fidra Gin
- Glasgow Distillery Company
- Glaswegin Distilling Co
- Loch Ness Spirits
- Moray Distillery
- Smithies Gin Company
- The Biggar Gin Company
- The Garden Shed Drinks Company
- The Port of Leith Distillery
- The Torridon
Best Brand Experience sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
- Arbikie Distillery – The A Club
- Eden Mill – Blendworks Gin School
- Edinburgh Gin – BAFTA Scotland
Scottish Gin Destination of the Year
- Balmenach Distillery (Caorunn), Speyside
- Crossbill Distilling, Glasgow
- Darnley’s Gin, Kingsbarns, Fife
- Eden Mill Blendworks, St. Andrews & Glasgow
- Isle of Harris Distillery, Harris
- Orkney Distillery, Orkney
- Persie Distillery, Perthshire
- Pixel Spirits, North Ballachulish
- The Old Curiosity Distillery, Midlothian
- The Distillery at Dalton (Oro), Lockerbie
Scottish Gin Event of the Year
- Gintyre, Beinn an Tuirc Distillers, Explore Campbeltown and South Kintyre Development Trust
- The Big Big Gin Festival, Edinburgh Corn Exchange
- Gin Jazz, Inshriach Distilling
- The Gin Fayre (No. 18 Ltd, Scottish Spirit Consortium)
- Juniper Gin Festival, Summerhall Drinks Lab
- The Gin To My Tonic Show, Glasgow
TASTE CATEGORIES
London Dry Gin of the Year sponsored by Franklin & Sons
- Artist Edition, Struan from Kinrara Distillery
- Avva Scottish Gin from Moray Distillery
- Barra Atlantic Gin from Isle of Barra Distillers
- Biggar Gin from Biggar Gin Company
- Caithness Highland Gin from Ice and Fire Distillery
- Caorunn Gin from International Beverage
- Caorunn Gin Masters Cut from International Beverage
- Crabbie’s 1837 from John Crabbie & Co
- Crofters Tears from Ice and Fire Distillery
- Crossbill 100% Scottish Dry Gin from Crossbill Distilling
- Darnley’s Original Gin from Darnley’s Gin
- Edinburgh Gin 1670 from Edinburgh Gin
- Edinburgh Gin Christmas from Edinburgh Gin
- Edinburgh Gin Classic from Edinburgh Gin
- Edinburgh Gin Seaside from Edinburgh Gin
- Fidra Gin from Fidra Gin
- Firkin Try Me Naked from Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- Garden Shed Gin from The Garden Shed Drinks Company
- Glaswegin from Glaswegin Distilling Co
- Gorse Gin from Lundin Distilling
- Hills & Harbour Gin from Crafty Distillery
- Holyrood Dry Gin from Holyrood Distillery
- Isle of Harris Gin from Isle of Harris Distillers
- King’s Hill Gin from The Pentland Still
- Kintyre Botanical Gin from Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
- Leith Gin from Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- Lenzie Gin from Lenzie Gin
- Lind & Lime Gin from The Port of Leith Distillery
- Loch Ness Gin from Loch Ness Spirits
- Mackintosh Gin from Mackintosh Gin
- Makar Original Dry Gin from Glasgow Distillery Company
- NB Samphire from NB Distillery
- Original Gin from Eden Mill
- Oro from The Oro Distilling Co
- Oro V from The Oro Distilling Co
- Persie Labrador Gin from Persie Distillery
- Persie Zesty Citrus Gin from Persie Distillery
- Pickering’s Gin from Pickering’s Gin
- Redcastle Scottish Gin from Redcastle Spirits
- Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Original Edition from Dunnet Bay Distillers
- Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Spring Edition from Dunnet Bay Distillers
- Selkirk Gin from Selkirk Distillers
- Shetland Reel Gin – Filska from The Shetland Distillery Company
- Smithies Gin from Smithies Gin Company
- Uisge Lusach from Uisge Lusach – The Gaelic Gins
Distilled Gin of the Year
- Arcturus Gin from The Torridon
- Devil’s Staircase from Pixel Spirits
- Edinburgh Gin Valentines from Edinburgh Gin
- Four Marys Zesty Sherbet Gin from Linlithgow Distillery
- Glasgow Warriors Gin – Wild Myrtle Gin from Eden Mill
- Isle of Bute Gorse Gin from Isle of Bute Gin
- Isle of Bute Oyster Gin from Isle of Bute Gin
- Kinrara Highland Dry from Kinrara Distillery
- Misty Isle Gin from Isle of Skye Distillers
- Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Autumn Edition from Dunnet Bay Distillers
- Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Summer Edition from Dunnet Bay Distillers
- Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Winter Edition from Dunnet Bay Distillers
- The Poshist from Madderty Micro
- Tommy’s Gin & Lest We Forget from Isle of Skye Distillers
High Strength Gin of the Year (50% ABV and over)
- Caorunn Highland Strength from International Beverage
- Crossbill 200yo Single Specimen Dry Gin from Crossbill Distilling
- Darnley’s Navy Strength Gin from Darnley’s Gin
- Inshriach 57% Navy Strength Speyside Dry Gin from Inshriach Distilling
- Kirkjuvagr Arkh-Angell from Orkney Distilling
- LeithAl Gin from Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- Navy Strength, Avva Scottish Gin from Moray Distillery
- Pickering’s Gin Navy Strength from Pickering’s Gin
- Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Navy Strength from Dunnet Bay Distillers
- Something Clear from McLean’s Gin
Gin Liqueur of the Year
- Berry Good – Raspberry from Moray Distillery
- Berry Good – Strawberry from Moray Distillery
- Blackcurrant, Rhubarb & Ginger from Eden Mill
- Edinburgh Gin Orange Blossom & Mandarin from Edinburgh Gin
- Edinburgh Gin Pomegranate & Rose from Edinburgh Gin
- El-gin Moray Berry from El-gin Findrassie
- El-gin Moray Mocha from El-gin Findrassie
- Redcastle Cranberry & Orange Winter Spice Liqueur from Redcastle Spirits
- Redcastle Passion Fruit & Mango Gin Liqueur from Redcastle Spirits
- Redcastle Raspberry & Pomegranate Gin Liqueur from Redcastle Spirits
- Shetland Reel, Rhubarb & Bramble Gin Liqueur from Shetland Distillery
- The Glesart from McLean’s Gin
Cask Gin of the Year sponsored by Wolffe
- Cask Finish Gin, Avva Scottish Gin from Moray Distillery
- Firkin Cask Aged – Cote Du Roussilion Red from Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- Firkin Cask Aged – Islay from Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- Firkin Gin – Navy Strength Cask Aged from Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- Firkin Oak Aged American Oak from Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- GlenWyvis Christmas GoodWill Spiced Gin from GlenWyvis Distillery
- Kintyre Oak Aged Gin from Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
- Makar Mulberry Aged Gin from Glasgow Distillery Company
- Makar Oak Aged Gin from Glasgow Distillery Company
- Rock Rose Reserve Sauternes Cask Edition from Dunnet Bay Distillers
- Shetland Reel Gin – Up Helly Aa 2019 from The Shetland Distillery Company
Flavoured Gin of the Year
- El-gin Heather Honey from El-gin Findrassie
- Kinrara Distiller’s Edition – Oaked Spice Gin from Kinrara Distillery
- Kinrara Distiller’s Edition – Rose & Cardamon Gin from Kinrara Distillery
- Kinrara Hibiscus Gin from Kinrara Distillery
- Lemon Verbena from The Old Curiosity Distillery
- Misty Isle Mulled Christmas Gin from Isle of Skye Distillers
- Persie Herby & Aromatic Gin from Persie Distillery
- Persie Spaniel Gin from Persie Distillery
Fruit Flavoured Gin of the Year
- Blueberry & Vanilla Gin from Eden Mill
- Caorunn Scottish Raspberry from International Beverage
- Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger Gin from Edinburgh Gin
- Kinrara Distiller’s Edition – Lime & Lemongrass Gin from Kinrara Distillery
- Madderty Micro Orange Marmalade Gin from Madderty Micro
- Makar Cherry Gin from Glasgow Distillery Company
- McQueen Pink Gin from McQueen Gin
- Passion Fruit & Coconut Gin – Duty Free Exclusive from Eden Mill
- Plum & Pink Grapefruit from Eden Mill
- Ripple Gin from Lundin Distilling
Old Tom Gin of the Year
- Crabbie’s 1891 from John Crabbie & Co.
- Esker Honey Spiced Gin from Esker Spirits
- Firkin Old Tom from Gleann Mor Spirits Co
- Holyrood Auld Tam from Holyrood Distillery
- Makar Old Tom from Glasgow Distillery
- Rock Rose Old Tom Pink Grapefruit from Dunnet Bay Distillers
Scottish Gin Awards is an official sponsor of International Scottish Gin Day 2019. Learn more here.