The Shout Magazine (New Zealand)

NZ Spirits Awards trophy winners revealed

The best of the best of New Zealand Spirits have been awarded trophies at the NZ Spirits Awards gala dinner in Auckland over the weekend.

“For the 20 trophy winners it has been quite a journey,” says Spirits New Zealand Chief Executive, Robert Brewer. 

451 entries were blind-tasted and judged in Wellington in late July.  The gold and double-gold medal winners in each category were then re-tasted and judged to find the best of the best.  

“This was made all the more challenging this year because there were more gold and double gold medals than ever before – and more for NZ distilled product than has ever been seen,” says Brewer.

Robert Brewer

Out of the 79 gold and double golds awarded, 48 went to New Zealand distilled product, an increase of about 19% on the previous year.

“And when you consider that one entire category is for Scotch and Irish Traditional whiskey then the result is even more pronounced,” he says.

The Awards are hosted by industry bodies Spirits New Zealand and Distilled Spirits Aotearoa and sponsored by Fever-Tree. 

To celebrate the trophy winners in each category Fever-Tree have teamed up with The Churchill in Auckland from 14 to 28 September to highlight and show each winner.

TrophyWinner
Best Overall in Category – Whisky North AmericanJack Daniels No.7 Bonded
Best Overall in Category – Whisky TraditionalJameson Single Pot Still
Best Overall in Category – Whisky WorldStarward Single Barrel Cognac Cask Finish
Best New Zealand in Category  –  Whisky WorldThomson Manuka Smoke Single Malt
Best Overal in Category – Gin London DrySandymount Distillery Lovers Leap Dry Gin
Best Overall in Category – Gin Contemporary/Navy StrengthStrange Nature Gin
Best Overall in Category – Gin FlavouredRoots Rosso Pinot Noir Gin
Best Overall in Category – Gin AgedAwildian Coromandel Mānuka Honey Matured Gin
Best Overall in Category – RumLast Light Rum Cask Strength Solera Aged Rum
Best Overall in Category –  White Rum1919 Distilling Cane Overproof
Best Overall in Category – Rum Spiced/BotanicalHelmsman Spiced Rum
Best Overall in Category –  LiqueursCuriosity Gin Pinot Barrel Sloe
Best Overall in Category – Botanical & Other SpiritsPetrus Boonekamp Blood Bitter
Best New Zealand in Category  – Botanical & Other SpiritsMatahui Distillery Fennel Liqueur
Best Overall in Category – Agave SpiritsDel Maguey Chichicapa
Best Overall in Category – Vodka Varietal42 Below Vodka
Best Overall in Category – Vodka Flavoured/AgedNational Distillery Company Aquifer Plateau Yuzu Vodka
Best Overall in Category – VermouthVilla M Rosso Vermouth
Best New Zealand in Category – VermouthScapegrace Red Vermouth
Best Overall in Category – BrandyElsewhen Applejack
New Zealand Packaging Design AwardBluff Gin
Cue Marketing New Zealand Emerging Product AwardLast Light Solera Aged Rum
Liquorland New Zealand Innovation AwardThomson Manuka Smoke Single Malt

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