World Gin Award Winners

It’s that time of year again! Gin awards time!

I really enjoy going through the winners, seeing what ones I have tried and making notes of winners I have yet to try. There are so many categories that my list at the end is always big enough to keep me busy for a while! So many good looking gins this year. Sweden sweeping the London Dry category was very cool to see.

I thought I’d make a list of 2021 winners we currently have in stock. Maybe you can grab one that you have not had!

Edinburgh Gin coming in hot and taking multiple awards!

Edinburgh Gin – Rhubarb & Ginger

SILVER – Flavoured Gin

Bottled at 40%, this perfectly balanced juniper-forward gin is full of natural flavour. Aromas of rhubarb are complemented by a lift of spice, leading to a smooth, full finish.

Edinburgh Gin – Gooseberry & Elderflower

SILVER – Flavoured Gin

A deliciously refreshing and aromatic gin that harmonises tangy Gooseberry with sweet Elderflower creating a refreshing and balanced gin.

Edinburgh Gin – Raspberry

BRONZE – Flavoured Gin

It is distilled with five traditional gin botanicals and a combination of fresh Scottish raspberries and raspberry leaves to a create a perfectly balanced gin with an incredible depth of flavour.

Rock Rose Gin – Navy Strength

BEST IN SCOTLAND – Navy Strength

The higher ABV version of Rock Rose gives a strong warm pine release at the front of the drink with notes of lemon sherbet. The heart of the drink is very bold berries from the blaeberries, rowan and hawthorn. These give way to the deeper earthier notes that are hidden in the original Rock Rose, such as angelica and orris.

Hernö Gin – London Dry

GOLD – London Dry

Crafted from natural and carefully selected organic botanicals, Hernö Dry Gin is a round and smooth London dry gin diluted to 40,5% ABV. Hernö Dry Gin is awarded with IWSC World’s best London Dry Gin and World’s best Gin & Tonic but is also very enjoyable on its own.

Edinburgh Gin – Classic

SILVER – London Dry

Our classic London Dry style gin. A clean, zesty, juniper-forward gin which balances softness with bright citrus. Launched in 2010, this is our modern London Dry gin, with a nod to Scotland in its recipe including native plants and botanicals.

Nikka – Coffey Gin

SILVER – Contemporary Style Gin

Coffey Gin’s complexity is achieved through the perfect balance between 11 selected botanicals and the silky texture of Coffey distillates. The bright and zesty aroma originating from four kinds of Japanese citruses, Yuzu, Kabosu, Amanatsu and Shequasar, compliments the traditional gin botanicals of juniper berries, angelica, coriander seeds, lemon and orange peels.

Foragers – Yellow Label

BRONZE – Contemporary Style Gin

Starting with soft juniper tones, Foragers gently takes you to fresh, semi-sweetness of apple and elderberry, before giving way to incredible, subtle, unmistakable floral notes from gorse and heather flowers. This truly is an authentic expression of Britain and the terrior of North Wales.

Grab one of these or any other one of our many gins! Find your new G&T gin!

Til next time.

Andrew

Sunday Afternoon with Hernö Gin

Always a good day when I get to sit down and do nothing but enjoy a G&T with a superb gin! Today‘s gin is the absolutely delicious Swedish Hernö Gin. Known amongst gin lovers, but not widely spread. It’s a shame because it is fantastically refreshing. I try to introduce as many people as I can to them.

This is a highly awarded gin from the High Coast of Sweden, and the first dedicated gin distillery in the country. Definitely a distillery I would love to visit one day, the pictures just look so serene. Built in the middle of nowhere in a converted 1800’s farm to hold their hand hammered copper stills. Also, the more I read about them the more it shows their welcoming nature and sense of community. That’s fantastic. Their passion shines through not only in their final product, but also in they way they do business.

The soil there is fantastic there to produce the natural ingredients used in the crafting of this gin. The gin by itself is such an easy drinking liquid that you really don’t need any additions. Anything added would just be something special. The core Hernö Dry Gin is an incredibly smooth London dry. Not too oily, incredibly fresh with slight vanilla and a nice bite of the coriander. Like a fresh and tasty garden in a glass.

No surprise it was the most awarded gin at the Gin Masters 2013.

Try out this cocktail suggestion from Hernö.

Dance like a butterfly

A light kiss with a taste of honey under the mistletoe. Ethereal. Like freshly fallen snow. Soft. Volatile. Seductive. Can you feel the butterflies?

Ingredients

50 ml Hernö Gin
20 ml honey water
20 ml fresh lemon juice
Vanilla foam
Salt

Preparation

Shake gin, honey water and fresh lemon juice. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with vanilla foam and a pinch of salt.

Honey water

Dissolve two parts honey in one part warm water.

Vanilla foam

3 dl sugar
3 dl water
1 vanilla pod
1 leaf of gelatine

Cook sugar and water. Mix in gelantine and add the vanilla pod. Rest for an hour. Strain and pour into a soda siphon.

6 Great Whisk(e)y Distilleries to Visit

We all may enjoy having a dram from the comfort of our own home or favourite watering hole, but how about at the source?! Whether you you want to make a specific whisk(e)y focused trip or just find a nice addition to your travel experience, you’re in luck. We have put together a small list of distilleries around the world that would definitely make for a good time!

Nikka’s Yoichi Distillery. Hokkaido, Japan.

While I don’t believe you could go wrong visiting any of the distilleries in Japan, Yoichi would be a personal favourite. Having been built in 1934 after leaving Yamazaki, Masataka Taketsuru wanted to emulate the Scottish distilleries he loved so much. So in true Scottish fashion, he built Yoichi up north nestled between the mountain and the sea. Coal fired pot stills creates whisky with those similar seaside flavours and slight pettiness that a lot of people love from Scotland. Grab a tour and take in the beautiful surroundings. The love of whisky transcends the language barrier!

High Coast Distillery. Kramfors, Sweden.

If you are in or planning a trip to Sweden, take a trip up to High Coast Distillery (formally Box Distillery). Opened in 2010 on the Ångermanälven river in and old wooden box factory, they have already been producing some great whiskies. Producing both peated and un-peated malts, you can take one good look at this company and see that they put their hearts into producing the best product they can! They have a visitor center, restaurant and whisky bar for those that are looking for a whisky adventure.

Blair Athol Distillery. Pitlochry, Scotland.

No whisky distillery list can have Scotland missing from it. There are so many great distilleries in Scotland that it warrants a trip just for them! With that in mind, we decided to just stick a couple on the list. Blair Athol sits in the beautiful town of Pitlochry and is the self-proclaimed “gateway to the Scottish Highlands. Anybody wanting a true Scottish experience will not be disappointed. A beautiful distillery with an equally gorgeous surrounding. They offer plenty of tours ranging from £9 to £250 all day experiences.

High West Distillery. Wanship, Utah.

Now we’re heading all the way over to the Wild West in Utah! A truly unique distillery for sure, it is the first legally licensed distillery in Utah since 1870! Founded by a former biochemist with a love for the old west and made famous by their different blend creations. They also produce their own high quality spirits at the 25,000 square foot compound. Tours of the beautiful distillery are available as well as an accompanying saloon in Old Town Park City. A must for anyone that has a love for the old west and good whiskey.

Highland Park Distillery. Orkney Islands, Scotland.

For those feeling adventurous and want to get away from the normal Scottish whisky trails of the Scottish Mainland, this one’s for you. Visiting this Viking Homeland has always been at the top of my list; it’s fierce and remote, rooted in great Nordic/Scottish history, once ruled by Viking Kings. Pack accordingly and just prepare for some awe-inspiring surroundings. Warm up with some of Highland Park’s delicious whiskies while on one of their tour options!

Woodford Reserve. Versailles, Kentucky.

With bourbon being beloved all over the world, we couldn’t make this list without a bourbon distillery! Sitting right in the heart of bourbon country, Woodford creates a wonderful small batch straight Kentucky bourbon. Sitting on Kentucky’s oldest distilling sites where Elijah Pepper started crafting whisky in 1812, Woodford is a registered historic site. If you are a bourbon fan, you won’t be disappointed with a visit here. Also, nothing is stopping you from continuing on the bourbon trail to the many other distilleries in the area!

While this list is not an end all be all list, it is one to put ideas in your head! There are plenty of distilleries in this world that will suit many different people with a variety of tastes. We just compiled a small list of places that sounded great to us!