The Gin Cooperative Awards

We’re proud to present the winners of the inaugural The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022. Originally launched in May 2022, The Gin Cooperative Awards saw Scotland’s gin makers and brand owners submit their Scottish Gins for review and judging. We were delighted with the response from the Scottish Gin industry, not only in terms of entries, but also the enthusiasm and support for the unique and original judging process we created.

Our carefully selected, real-world judging panel reviewed and scored each entry using a measured points based system that gave weight, value and meaning to each score using our calculated definitions for appearance, nose, palate and finish. These values were applied to the Scottish Gin sample neat and as a gin and tonic along with the same scoring system used for design and packaging, including shelf appeal. Judges were provided a detailed and in-depth judges guide that provided guidance on preparing and judging the samples with examples of the qualities for appearance, nose, palate and finish as well as the packaging elements for each entry.

The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 Judges

In total, 63 judges made up 7 judging groups. Each judging group featured 3 industry judges, 3 consumer judges and 3 community judges. Industry judges included bartenders and venue owners from well known and respected establishments. Consumer judges were selected based on our data from our Scottish Gin subscription service and were chosen based on having some understanding of gin as a spirit and also a clear passion for the juniper spirit, with many consumer judges holding WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) qualifications. Our community judges featured spirits, food and travel bloggers and content creators, all of whom were selected based on their passion for gin and spirits, with many key people in the gin community actively helping to raise the profile of gin through their social media channels and content.

Industry. Consumer. Community. The three key areas we see as being a large part of gin’s growth and success. We wanted to ensure a balanced judging panel that captured and represented these three key groups. We give our thanks to our fantastic judging panel who gave their time and put in the work to review and score this year’s entries. Some people will say judging spirits is a dream job. And yes, it is amazing to nose, taste and discover the qualities in a spirit that elevates it to an award-winning spirit, but without a doubt, it takes a lot of time and patience to work through any judging process to ensure each sample is given the time and care it deserves.

The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 Entrants

In the end, 122 Scottish Gins made it through to the final judging stage, including super premium brands to small batch, independent distillers. It’s a showcase of what the Scottish Gin category is all about. There is no template or one size fits all in Scottish Gin and it’s what makes the Scottish Gin category such an exciting industry to discover and explore for consumers and industry. We want to personally thank all the brands who entered The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022. As the industry continues to face issues with supply chain and increasing costs, we’re extremely grateful to all the brands who took the time to enter, and also want to give thanks to our wider membership and businesses who have continued to support us, collaborate with us and work collectively to help raise the bar for Scottish Gin. Thank you.

The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 Sponsors & Supporters

A number of awards for 2022 were sponsored this year, something we’re proud of and grateful for; to have the support of other businesses working in the spirits supply chain. Where we can, we always seek to collaborate and work with other like-minded business and where possible work with other businesses and brands based in the UK. Being able to showcase the sponsors and share their services and products has been another upside and benefit of The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 and we just wanted to give our thanks to all the businesses and brands who have contributed to the success of the inaugural awards.

EFX, the UK’s leading trophy and awards design and manufacturing company – learn more here.

Walter Gregor’s, premium Scottish tonic – learn more here.

Rankin Brothers & Sons, corks, capsules and closures – learn more here.

Shine PR, the communications agency for food & drink, travel, tourism and hospitality – learn more here.

JFS (Joseph Flach & Sons), global botanical merchants since 1882 – learn more here.

Glencairn Crystal, a leading manufacturer of bespoke glass and crystal – learn more here.

Jim Rankin, Commercial Director of Rankin Brothers & Sons said, “Rankin is proud to support The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 as category sponsor of the Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2022. The thirst for regional and local gins shows no sign of abating and Scotland is world renown for producing great tasting Scottish Gins backed up with brilliant packaging. Established in Scotland in 1774, Rankin has long supported distillers with the development, manufacture and supply of cork stoppers and closures that add value to our customers brands and products.”

Mhairi Clarke, Director of Shine PR said, “Being the PR partner for this year’s The Gin Cooperative Awards has been such a pleasure; it really has been such a wonderful project to be involved in. I hugely admire the dedication and passion of Martin and Natalie in creating and building this unique and thriving gin community in Scotland. Promoting Scottish provenance and our great brands is something I am equally passionate about; this is the reason I launched Shine PR and I look forward to continuing to expand our client base with some new, interesting Scottish brands in addition to many of the well known clients we work with.”

The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 Winners

We have worked our way through the scoresheets, triple checked and verified the scores and are delighted to announce that the following Scottish Gins scored the highest in each of the respective award categories earning a Gold, Silver or Bronze award. The scores and margins in the categories were close for many of the entrants and is testament to the quality of the brands that entered this year. But as we set out to create an awards programme that rightly recognised the top three entries in each award category, without further a do our winners of The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 are…

Scottish Gin of the Year Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Scottish Gin of the Year Award 2022 – sponsored by EFX, the UK’s leading trophy and awards design and manufacturing company, are:

GOLD – Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)

SILVER – LinGin Dry (Linlithgow Distillery)

BRONZE – Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)

Alexander Stockton, Founder of Alexander’s said, “I’m absolutely over the moon that Alexander’s Gin has been recognised with five awards at The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022, including Gold for Scottish Gin of the Year. It took me two years to create the gin with the very patient team at Lost Loch Spirits, going through so many rounds of recipe development and refining until I was 100% happy. I’m from a brewing background so understand that flavours have to be balanced, enjoyable but flexible, especially white spirits, which tend to be drunk either neat or in a cocktail.

“I never enter awards and have only really pushed my gin locally in the Stonehaven and Aberdeenshire area, so the fact that Alexander’s Gin picked up three Golds and two Silvers amongst some amazing Scottish Gins means so much to me. I wanted to support The Gin Cooperative in their inaugural awards competition, as they’ve helped champion not only my gin but most of Scotland’s gins and producers, so I knew this was an awards programme created by people who have a genuine love for Scottish Gin, which just adds a little extra sparkle to my awards.”

Scottish Gin of the Year Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)
• Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)
• Downpour Scottish Dry Gin (North Uist Distillery Co.)
• Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)
• Isle of Harris Gin (Isle of Harris Distillers)
• LBD Gin Latitude Strength (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
• Lind & Lime Gin (Lind & Lime Gin Distillery)
• LinGin Dry (Linlithgow Distillery)
• Shoogle Junniperous Navy Strength Gin (Shoogle Spirits)
• SOS Gin Scotland’s Other Spirit (SOS Gin)

Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2022 – sponsored by Walter Gregor’s, premium Scottish tonic, are:

GOLD – Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)

SILVER – Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)

BRONZE – Junniperous Navy Strength Gin (Shoogle Spirits)

Michael Stewart, Founder of Foghouse Spirits said, “We can’t believe we managed to win four awards! The inaugural The Gin Cooperative Awards have been fantastic and we’ve loved the way that they have been run and obviously their judges have great taste! It is great for us as a new gin company to be recognised by such a diverse range of people. It is truly a massive result for us.”

Scottish Gin and Tonic Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)
• eeNoo Gin (Lost Loch Spirits)
• Farmer Strength Drovers Gin (The Wee Farm Distillery)
• Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)
• LinGin Dry (Linlithgow Distillery)
• LoneWolf Peach & Passionfruit Gin (BrewDog Distilling Co.)
• Misty Isle Gin (Isle of Skye Distillers)
• Persie Sweet & Nutty Old Tom Gin (Persie Distillery)
• Shoogle Junniperous Navy Strength Gin (Shoogle Spirits)
• Strathaven Hedgerow Gin (McLean’s Gin)

Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2022 – sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons, corks, capsules and closures, are:

GOLD – Isle of Harris Gin (Isle of Harris Distillers)

SILVER – Lind & Lime Gin (The Lind & Lime Gin Distillery)

BRONZE – Downpour Scottish Dry Gin (North Uist Distillery Co.)

Scottish Gin Packaging Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Biggar Strength Gin (The Biggar Gin Co.)
• Crosskirk Bay Gin (North Point Distillery)
• Downpour Scottish Dry Gin (North Uist Distillery Co.)
• Hills & Harbour Gin (Crafty Distillery)
• Isle of Harris Gin (Isle of Harris Distillers)
• King’s Hill Gin (The Pentland Still)
• Kirkjuvagr Aurora Spiced Orkney Gin (Orkney Distilling)
• Lind & Lime Gin (The Lind & Lime Gin Distillery)
• LinGin Dry (Linlithgow Distillery)
• The Botanist Gin (The Botanist Gin)

New Scottish Gin Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the New Scottish Gin Award 2022 are:

GOLD – Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)

SILVER – Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)

BRONZE – Sky Garden Gin (Dark Art Distillery)

Erin Watt, Orkney Gin Company said, “We were so thrilled when we discovered our Aatta Gin had picked up a Gold award for Best New Scottish Gin and two Bronze awards for Scottish Gin of the Year and London Dry Scottish Gin. As a small family business based in Orkney, we put so much time and effort into creating Scottish Gin that captures some of our island’s heritage and storytelling and we’re delighted that the judges rated our Aatta Gin so highly.”

New Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)
• Biggar Cask Aged Gin (The Biggar Gin Co.)
• Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)
• Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin (Courageous Spirits)
• Height of Arrows Bright Gin (Holyrood Distillery)
• LBD Gin #projectQUERCUSACER (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
• Oro Strawberry Gin (The ORO Distilling Co.)
• Portknockie Indian Spiced Gin (Ketch Distillery)
• Sky Garden Gin (Dark Art Distillery)
• Strathaven Hedgerow Gin (McLean’s Gin)

London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2022 – sponsored by Shine PR, the communications agency for food & drink, travel, tourism and hospitality, are:

GOLD – Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)

SILVER – LinGin Dry (Linlithgow Distillery)

BRONZE – Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)

Alyson Jamieson, Co-founder of Linlithgow Distillery said, “We launched LinGin Dry at the start of 2018 and have slowly and carefully built our range of Scottish Gins and spirits around this signature gin, as well as committing to significant investment in a custom packaging rebrand in 2021. We’re delighted to see that our LinGin Dry has been recognised by The Gin Cooperative Awards judges, picking up a Silver for the tough category that is London Dry Scottish Gin. We’re especially thrilled and humbled at the Silver for Scottish Gin of The Year, placing second in such a fantastic lineup of Scottish Gins!”

London Dry Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)
• Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)
• Devil’s Staircase Gin (Pixel Spirits)
• Downpour Scottish Dry Gin (North Uist Distillery Co.)
• eeNoo Gin (Lost Loch Spirits)
• Isle of Harris Gin (Isle of Harris Distillers)
• Lind & Lime Gin (Lind & Lime Gin Distillery)
• LinGin Dry (Linlithgow Distillery)
• Sky Garden Gin (Dark Art Distillery)
• SOS Gin Scotland’s Other Spirit (SOS Gin)

Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2022 – sponsored by JFS (Joseph Flach & Sons), global botanical merchants since 1882, are:

GOLD – Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)

SILVER – Strathaven Hedgerow Gin (McLean’s Gin)

BRONZE – Misty Isle Gin (Isle of Skye Distillers)

Colin McLean, Founder of McLean’s Gin said, “We’re really thrilled to have picked up not one, but two Silver medals for Strathaven Hedgerow… and in two very tough categories, to boot. From the research and botanical foraging to the plethora of trial distillations, a truly enormous amount of time and energy went into pinning down the final Strathaven Hedgerow recipe; the first London Dry Gin to find itself as part of our core range. It’s a real honour to have these efforts recognised by the panel; there are some very well respected judges on there. Our congrats to those who swooped the Gold, and to everyone else who entered the Awards!”

Distilled Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Biggar Herbaceous Gin (The Biggar Gin Co.)
• Clydesdale Gin Artist Edition (The Wee Farm Distillery)
• Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)
• Height of Arrows Bright Gin (Holyrood Distillery)
• Isle of Raasay Gin (Isle of Raasay Distillery)
• Misty Isle Gin (Isle of Skye Distillers)
• Portknockie Indian Spiced Gin (Ketch Distillery)
• Restoration Gin (Isle of Cumbrae Distillers)
• Strathaven Hedgerow Gin (McLean’s Gin)
• Tipple Gin (Tipple Spirits Company)

Old Tom Scottish Gin Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Old Tom Scottish Gin Award 2022 are:

GOLD – Persie Sweet & Nutty Old Tom Gin (Persie Distillery)

SILVER – Makar Old Tom Gin (The Glasgow Distillery Company)

BRONZE – 1881 Garden Gin Summer Edition (1881 Distillery)

Simon Fairclough, Co-Founder of Persie Distillery said “The revival of the Old Tom category is a joy for the gin aficionado. It provides the distiller with endless possibilities for introducing a little extra sweetness to the spirit married with robust signature botanicals. Ours leans especially on silky vanilla pods and warming root ginger. And, we are absolutely thrilled to have achieved a Gold in the inaugural TGC Awards, judged by both the best of the trade and most enthusiastic of consumers.”

Old Tom Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists were:

• 1881 Garden Gin Summer Edition (1881 Distillery)
• Height of Arrows Heavy Gin (Holyrood Distillery)
• Mackintosh Old Tom Gin (Mackintosh Gin)
• Makar Old Tom Gin (The Glasgow Distillery Company)
• Misty Isle ‘Pink’ Old Tom Gin (Isle of Skye Distillers)
• Persie Sweet & Nutty Old Tom Gin (Persie Distillery)

Cask Aged Scottish Gin Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Cask Aged Scottish Gin Award 2022 are:

GOLD – LBD Gin #projectQUERCUSACER (Little Brown Dog Spirits)

SILVER – Biggar Cask Aged Gin (The Biggar Gin Co.)

BRONZE – Makar Mulberry Aged Gin (The Glasgow Distillery Company)

Andrew Smith, Co-founder of Little Brown Dog Spirits said, “Genuinely chuffed to see our efforts recognised in this way. I’m glad our wood experience from the whisky side of the business has translated into the gin, with gold in the cask aged category. And winning silver in the navy strength category, our personal favourite style of gin, in esteemed company, that makes us very happy.”

Cask Aged Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Biggar Cask Aged Gin (The Biggar Gin Co.)
• LBD Gin #projectQUERCUSACER (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
• Makar Mulberry Aged Gin (The Glasgow Distillery Company)
• Up Helly Aa 2022 Rum Cask Aged Gin (Shetland Reel)

Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award 2022 are:

GOLD – Junniperous Navy Strength Gin (Shoogle Spirits)

SILVER – LBD Gin Latitude Strength (Little Brown Dog Spirits)

BRONZE – Farmer Strength Drovers Gin (The Wee Farm Distillery)

Chris Payne, Co-Founder of Shoogle Spirits said “As a small family business, like most in this industry, conditions have been challenging for us over the last 24 months or so. With the impact of COVID-19, rising energy costs, and delays within the global supply chain, we’ve had our fair share of hurdles to overcome since we started back in 2019. But one of the things that gets us through is the fantastic support from our peers and customers. I’ve never known an industry where participants are so supportive of each other, banding together in a common voice to help and share collective experience to nurture and aid small gin producers like us. Coupled with fantastic feedback and encouragement from the wider gin community, we are privileged to be a producer of Scottish gin with support from some fantastic retailers and customers, many of whom we consider to be part of the Shoogle family. The Gin Cooperative awards are extra special in that regard. Not only is it the showcase for some truly amazing Scottish gins, but also a celebration of the collective talent and capabilities of everyone involved in making, distributing, packing, buying, tasting, and judging some of what I consider to be the best spirits in the world. It’s an amazing credit and a reflection of the hard work that we, and many others have made in the pursuit of exceptional gin. Thank you to Natalie and Martin for organising and for supporting Scottish Gin; our Junniperous Gin will wear this esteemed award with great honour.”

Jenny McKerr, Founder of The Wee Farm Distillery said, “Our business and gins pay tribute to Scotland’s rich history of farming and agriculture, with each of our Scottish Gin expressions created to be different but all made using quality ingredients and each has a story to tell. Our Farmer Strength Drovers Gin picked up a Bronze in the Navy Strength Scottish Gin category, an award category which is always highly sought after. I’m elated that the Farmer Strength Drovers Gin was recognised with a Bronze in such a tough category.”

Navy Strength Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Biggar Strength Gin (The Biggar Gin Co.)
• Crossbill 200 Single Specimen Dry Gin 2021 (Crossbill Distilling)
• Darnley’s Spiced Gin Navy Strength Edition (Darnley’s Gin)
• Farmer Strength Drovers Gin (The Wee Farm Distillery)
• LBD Gin Latitude Strength (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
• Mackintosh Mariner Strength Gin (Mackintosh Gin)
• Shoogle Junniperous Navy Strength Gin (Shoogle Spirits)
• Tarbert Legbiter Navy Strength Gin (Beinn an Tuirc)

Flavoured Scottish Gin Award 2022 Winners

Winners of Flavoured Scottish Gin Award 2022 are:

GOLD – ORO Strawberry Gin (The ORO Distilling Co.)

SILVER – LoneWolf Peach & Passionfruit Gin (BrewDog Distilling Co.)

BRONZE – Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin (Courageous Spirits)

Steven Kersley, Head Distiller at Brewdog Distilling Co. said, “It always means so much when we receive recognition for our work, the distilling team in Ellon are so passionate about their craft and our commitment to distilling delicious spirits is what we pride ourselves on. An award from The Gin Cooperative is fantastic news for us and we’ll be celebrating our win with a few gin and tonics.”

Flavoured Scottish Gin Award 2022 Finalists were:

• 1881 Rafters Gin Subtly Smoked (1881 Distillery)
• Aberdeen Scottish Bramble Gin (City of Aberdeen Distillery)
• Caorunn Blood Orange Gin (Caorunn)
• Ellis No.5 Lemon Gin (Ellis Gin)
• Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin (Courageous Spirits)
• Hrafn Gin ‘Cranachan’ (Raven Spirits)
• LoneWolf Peach & Passionfruit Gin (BrewDog Distilling Co.)
• ORO Strawberry Gin (The ORO Distilling Co.)
• Persie Spaniel Gin (Persie Distillery)
• Vara Gin (Deerness Distillery)

Industry Judges Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Industry Judges Award 2022 are:

GOLD – Lussa Gin (Lussa Drinks Company)

SILVER – Strathaven Hedgerow Gin (McLean’s Gin)

BRONZE – Fidra Gin (Fidra)

Claire Fletcher, Co-Founder of Lussa Drinks Company said, “Alicia, Georgina and I are chuffed to bits to win our first gold medal from The Gin Cooperative. It means a lot more to us to win an award when the competition is properly judged by a judging panel that includes consumers, industry and community, people who are passionate about craft Scottish Gin.”

Emma Bouglet, Co-founder of Fidra said, “Myself and Jo are delighted that Fidra Gin has picked up Bronze in the Industry Judges Award. We use locally-foraged coastal botanicals from the sand dunes, seashore and hedgerows here in East Lothian and we work with Walter Micklethwait from Inshriach Distillery to produce the gin using traditional distilling methods. We’re ecstatic Fidra Gin has been recognised in The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022 by their impressive panel of Industry judges, individuals who work with quality gin and spirits day in, day out!” 

Industry Judges Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)
• Devil’s Staircase Gin (Pixel Spirits)
• Fidra Gin (Fidra)
• Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin (Courageous Spirits)
• LBD Gin Latitude Strength (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
• LinGin Dry (Linlithgow Distillery)
• Lussa Gin (Lussa Drinks Company)
• Portknockie Indian Spiced Gin (Ketch Distillery)
• Rock Rose Gin (Dunnet Bay Distillers)
• Strathaven Hedgerow Gin (McLean’s Gin)

Community Judges Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Community Judges Award 2022 are:

GOLD – Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)

SILVER – Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)

BRONZE – Isle of Harris Gin (Isle of Harris Distillers)

Community Judges Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Aatta Gin (Orkney Gin Company)
• Aberdeen Lemon & Lime Gin (City of Aberdeen Distillery)
• Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)
• Crossbill 200 Single Specimen Dry Gin 2021 (Crossbill Distilling)
• Foghouse Gin (Foghouse Spirits)
• Isle of Harris Gin (Isle of Harris Distillers)
• LBD Gin Latitude Strength (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
• Misty Isle Gin (Isle of Skye Distillers)
• ORO Strawberry Gin (The ORO Distilling Co.)
• Roehill Springs Gin No 5 (Roehill Springs Distillery)

Consumer Judges Award 2022 Winners

Winners of the Consumer Judges Award 2022 are:

GOLD – Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)

SILVER – Hrafn Gin ‘Valkyrie’ (Raven Spirits)

BRONZE – Shetland Reel Zesty Gin (Shetland Reel)

Consumer Judges Award 2022 Finalists were:

• Alexander’s Gin (Alexander’s)
• Cairngorm Gin (Cairngorm Gin Company)
• Hrafn Gin ‘Valkyrie’ (Raven Spirits)
• LBD Gin #projectQUERCUSACER (Little Brown Dog Spirits)
• LinGin Dry (Linlithgow Distillery)
• Shetland Reel Zesty Gin (Shetland Reel)
• Sky Garden Gin (Dark Art Distillery)
• SOS Gin Scotland’s Other Spirit (SOS Gin)
• Tipple Gin (Tipple Spirits Company)
• Vara Gin (Deerness Distillery)

Congratulations once again to all the finalists and winners and a big thank you to our entrants, judges, sponsors and everyone who has taken the time to be involved and support The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022.

The physical awards are currently being produced by EFX and will be posted out to the winners in due course in the next few weeks. We will also be providing all entrants with their respective scoresheets and judges feedback, which we hope will provide some valuable and insightful feedback to the brands and producers. 

As we look towards The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023, we will conduct a careful and strategic review of the 2022 awards process so we can continue to deliver an awards programme for the Scottish Gin category that’s fair, balanced and helps showcase the wonderful world of Scottish Gin.