The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023 Winners

The finals scores for The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023 have been submitted, calculated and verified revealing The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023 winners. The competition was once again extremely competitive and close, with many of the entries this year scoring very highly. We were proud to see all gin producing regions of Scotland well represented, which has translated into our finalists and winners. In the end, we narrowed it down to six finalists in each of the main gin style award categories with three eventual winners taking home gold, silver and bronze awards. Well done to all the entries who made it through to the finalists stage and congratulations to the winners.

The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023 Judges

Our 2023 judging panel was made up of 72 judges with 24 industry judges, 24 consumer judges and 24 community judges and a number of new award categories. Our judging process involved carefully reviewing and scoring each entry by nine judges – three industry, three consumer and three community. Our judges assessed several 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. Along with the liquids, our judging panel also reviewed and judged packaging for each entry. As tasting is strictly blind, a different set of judges reviewed packaging related to the respective tasting samples.

Once again, every judge was provided a detailed and in-depth judges guide with advice and tips for judging each element of the entries and general advice, ensuring each judge scored the entries based on the same guidance. A heartfelt thanks once again to our amazing judging panel for all their time, effort and hard work.

The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023 Sponsors

Thank you to our 2023 award sponsors for their time and support this year. It’s a testament to our 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.

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

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

Vetroelite; global glass packaging providers – learn more here.

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

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

ScottishGin.com; Scottish Gin Merchants – learn more here.

Last but not least, we want to thank every Scottish Gin business and brand who took the time to enter The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023. Judges feedback will be provided to all entrants once the winners are announced. We greatly appreciate your time and investment in The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023.

Scottish Gin of the Year Award 2023 Winners

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 2023 Winners

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 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)

Outstanding 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

We’re delighted and thrilled to award the very first Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Gin Award to Martin Murray. 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)

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)

Congratulations once again to all the finalists and winners. As we begin work on The Gin Cooperative Awards 2024, we are incredibly grateful for all the support from our brilliant sponsors, fantastic judging panel, and all the Scottish Gin producers and brand owners who entered this year.

Visit The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023 homepage here.

Discover The Gin Cooperative Awards 2023 finalists here.