Launched in May 2022, the inaugural The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 saw entries from a range of Scotland’s gin brands and producers across an assortment of established and recognised gin styles; London Dry, Distilled, Old Tom, Cask Aged, Flavoured and Navy Strength were all well represented across the Scottish Gins entered, showcasing the diversity of flavours.
With a carefully selected judging panel that comprised of judges from industry, consumer and community, the judging panel was just as diverse and unique as the Scottish Gins entered, a real-world judging panel put together to provide a real reflection of three key areas we see as playing a role in gin’s success and continued growth – industry, community and consumers.
Judging involved each entry being scored on a number of key elements including appearance, nose, palate and finish both neat and served as a gin and tonic, with each entry judged by nine judges – three industry, three consumer and three community. Alongside the contents of the bottles, our judging panel also reviewed and judged the packaging for each entry, another element that has played a role in helping raise the bar for Scottish Gin’s shelf appeal to the consumer.
Every judge was provided a detailed and in-depth judges guide that provided them with advice and tips for judging each element of the entries along with general advice, ensuring each judge was judging the entries based on the same guidance. Judges were provided their samples, Walter Gregor’s Tonic Water and Glencairn tasting glasses to help them with the judging. A big thank you to all our amazing judges whose hard work and dedication to the judging process has helped reveal this year’s finalists.
Over 1,300 samples were sent out to judges across the UK and as far as field as Italy. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Judges were provided with a set of Glencairn Crystal tasting glasses. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
We want to give all our judges our heartfelt thanks for their time, commitment and fantastic judging notes, which will be provided to the entrants once the final winners are announced later this month. Judging any spirit has its challenges, regardless of experience or background. It is a genuine challenge knowing that the contents of the glass is someone’s handwork. It is their proverbial baby, so we appreciate the hard work our judges have put in to assessing all the entries this year, thank you.
Thank you to our 2022 award sponsors for their time and support. It’s a testament to our new awards programme that we have a range of key supply chain sponsors involved with our awards; great businesses that play a crucial role in supporting and championing the Scottish Gin category and the broader Scottish drinks and spirits industry.
Last but by no means least, we want to thank every Scottish Gin business and brand who took the time to enter The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022. Judges feedback will be provided to all entrants once the winners are announced. We greatly appreciate the time and investment each of you made entering The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022.
Winners will be announced week commending Monday 29th of August via The Gin Cooperative website and social media channels.
Judges were provided with the signature original tonic from Walter Gregor’s to aid with the Gin & Tonic judging. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
The winners will be announced later this month on The Gin Cooperative website. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
We’re delighted to announce that the following Scottish Gins are finalists in their respective categories. Congratulations to all finalists and good luck. We look forward to sharing the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners later this month via The Gin Cooperative website and social media channels.
Scottish Gin of the Year Award 2022 – sponsored by EFX – the UK’s leading trophy and awards design and manufacturing company.
The Scottish Gin of The Year Award 2022 is awarded to the three Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging.
Scottish Gin of the Year Award 2022 Winners will be announced week commencing 29th of August via The Gin Cooperative website and social media channels.
Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2022 – sponsored by Walter Gregor’s – premium Scottish tonic.
Scottish Gin and Tonic Award is awarded to the three Scottish Gins with the three highest scores for taste as a gin and tonic, across all taste award categories.
Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2022 Finalists are:
Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2022 Finalists include: Alexander’s Gin, eeNoo Gin, Farmer Strength Drovers Gin, Foghouse Gin, LinGin Dry. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2022 Finalists include: LoneWolf Peach & Passion Fruit Gin, Misty Isle Gin, Persie Sweet & Nutty Old Tom Gin, Shoogle Junniperous Navy Strength Gin, Strathaven Hedgerow Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2022 – sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons – premium corks, capsules and closures.
Scottish Gin Packaging Award is awarded to the three Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for bottle and packaging design, and shelf appeal.
Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2022 Finalists are:
Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2022 Finalists include: Biggar Strength Gin, Crosskirk Bay Gin, Downpour Scottish Dry Gin, Hills & Harbour Gin, Isle of Harris Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2022 Finalists include: King’s Hill Gin, Kirkjuvagr Aurora Spiced Orkney Gin, Lind & Lime Gin, LinGin Dry, The Botanist Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
New Scottish Gin Award is awarded to the three Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging, released in the last 12 months.
New Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists are:
New Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Aatta Gin, Biggar Cask Aged Gin, Foghouse Gin, Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin, Height of Arrows Bright Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
New Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: LBD Gin #projectQUERCUSACER, Oro Strawberry Gin, Portknockie Indian Spiced Gin, Sky Garden Gin, Strathaven Hedgerow Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2022 – sponsored by Shine PR, the communications agency for food & drink, travel, tourism and hospitality.
London Dry Scottish Gin Award is awarded to the three London Dry Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging.
London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists are:
London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Aatta Gin, Alexander’s Gin, Devil’s Staircase Gin, Downpour Scottish Dry Gin, eeNoo Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Isle of Harris Gin, Lind & Lime Gin, LinGin Dry, Sky Garden Gin, SOS Gin Scotland’s Other Spirit. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2022 – sponsored by JFS (Joseph Flach & Sons) – global botanical merchants since 1882.
Distilled Scottish Gin Award is awarded to the three Distilled Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging.
Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists are:
Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Biggar Herbaceous Gin, Clydesdale Gin Artist Edition, Foghouse Gin, Height of Arrows Bright Gin, Isle of Raasay Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Misty Isle Gin, Portknockie Indian Spiced Gin, Restoration Gin, Strathaven Hedgerow Gin, Tipple Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Old Tom Scottish Gin Award is awarded to the three Old Tom Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging.
Old Tom Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists are:
Old Tom Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: 1881 Garden Gin Summer Edition, Height of Arrows Heavy Gin, Mackintosh Old Tom Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Old Tom Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Makar Old Tom Gin, Misty Isle ‘Pink’ Old Tom Gin, Persie Sweet & Nutty Old Tom Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Cask Aged Scottish Gin Award is awarded to the three Cask Aged Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging.
Cask Aged Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists are:
Cask Aged Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Biggar Cask Aged Gin, LBD Gin #projectQUERCUSACER. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Cask Aged Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Makar Mulberry Aged Gin, Up Helly Aa 2022 Rum Cask Aged Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award is awarded to the three Navy Strength Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging.
Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists are:
Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: Biggar Strength Gin, Crossbill 200 Single Specimen Dry Gin 2021, Darnley’s Spiced Gin Navy Strength Edition, Farmer Strength Drovers Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: LBD Gin Latitude Strength, Mackintosh Mariner Strength Gin, Shoogle Junniperous Navy Strength Gin, Tarbert Legbiter Navy Strength Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Flavoured Scottish Gin Award is awarded to the three Flavoured Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging.
Flavoured Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists are:
Flavoured Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: 1881 Rafters Gin Subtly Smoked, Aberdeen Scottish Bramble Gin, Caorunn Blood Orange Gin, Ellis No.5 Lemon Gin, Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Flavoured Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists include: HRAFN Gin ‘Cranachan’, LoneWolf Peach & Passion Fruit Gin, Oro Strawberry Gin, Persie Spaniel Gin, Vara Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Industry Judges Award is awarded to the three Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging, scored by the Industry Judging panel.
Industry Judges Award 2022 Finalists are:
Industry Judges Award 2022 Finalists include: Aatta Gin, Devil’s Staircase Gin, Fidra Gin, Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin, LBD Gin Latitude Strength. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Industry Judges Award 2022 Finalists include: LinGin Dry, Lussa Gin, Portknockie Indian Spiced Gin, Rock Rose Gin, Strathaven Hedgerow Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Community Judges Award is awarded to the three Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging, scored by the Community Judging panel.
Community Judges Award 2022 Finalists are:
Community Judges Award 2022 Finalists include: Aatta Gin, Aberdeen Lemon & Lime Gin, Alexander’s Gin, Crossbill 200 Single Specimen Dry Gin 2021, Foghouse Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Community Judges Award 2022 Finalists include: Isle of Harris Gin, LBD Gin Latitude Strength, Misty Isle Gin, Oro Strawberry Gin, Roehill Springs Gin No 5. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Consumer Judges Award is awarded to the three Scottish Gins with the highest combined scores for taste neat, taste as a gin and tonic, and packaging, scored by the Consumer Judging panel.
Consumer Judges Award 2022 Finalists are:
Consumer Judges Award 2022 Finalists include: Alexander’s Gin, Cairngorm Gin, HRAFN Gin ‘Valkyrie’, LBD Gin #projectQUERCUSACER, LinGin Dry. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Consumer Judges Award 2022 Finalists include: Shetland Reel Zesty Gin, Sky Garden Gin, SOS Gin Scotland’s Other Spirit, Tipple Gin, Vara Gin. Pic: ©The Gin Cooperative
Winners Announcement
Once again, congratulations to all the finalists who made it to this stage in The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022, good luck. Winners will be announced later this month via The Gin Cooperative website and social media channels.
Thank You
To all the brilliant Scottish Gin brands and producers who took the time to enter the awards this year, thank you. To our amazing judges for their hard work, time, energy and support with this year’s judging, thank you. To all our super sponsors from across the Scottish Gin and wider food, drinks and spirits supply chain who have supported this year’s awards, thank you.
The Gin Cooperative Awards Sponsorship Opportunties
Sponsorship package’s are available for The Gin Cooperative Awards, contact us today to learn more about how your business and brand can be involved. Email: martin@thegincooperative.com
You can learn more about the many great Scottish Gins by visiting the links below.
