The results of the 2023 London Spirits Competition have been announced with a Scottish gin taking out the top prize.
A record number of entrants this year were vying for the bronze, silver, and gold medals, with around 2000 spirits brands entering from more than 80 countries.
Some of the UK’s top bartenders and spirits buyers gathered at St Mary’s Church in London’s Marylebone last month, sniffing, swirling, and spitting their way through a vast array of gins, vodkas, and whiskies, as well as a range of more esoteric spirits.
Spirits are rated with three main criteria in mind: quality, value and packaging. To be a medal winner, spirits must show a high rating in all the three factors with the most weightage on quality.
The 2023 Competition saw 367 entries from the Australia as the top entrant country, followed by 303 products from United Kingdom and 138 from the United States.
695 gins made gin the top category entrant, followed by rum and whiskey.
Downpour from North Uist Distillery Scotland won Spirit of the Year 2023, with 98 points.
Three New Zealand spirits received gold medals in this year’s awards – Waiheke Distilling Co.’s Horopito Spice Vodka, which took out Best In Show By Country Category; The Premium Liquor Co.’s Rose & Twig Pomegranate Gin; and Dunedin Craft Distillers’ The Bay Gin.
“The London Spirits Competition is becoming more widely known in the trade with each passing year, and as a result we are receiving an increased number of entries,” says Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network, which owns and manages the event.
“I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at the increased number of entries this year as the pandemic resulted in many drinks companies putting their NPD on hold and focusing on their core operations instead.
“This is just testament to the increasingly good reputation of the competition as word spreads in the industry that we offer something a bit different from other events.”
For a full list of winners, click here.
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