The medal winners for the sixth annual NZ Spirits Awards have been released.
The judging for the awards took place just over a week ago in Wellington where 22 judges tasted and graded 451 entries in 16 categories.
Overall, there were 79 Double-Gold and Gold, 201 Silver and 120 Bronze medals awarded.
Kiwi distilleries awarded Double Gold include Sandymount Distillery, Broken Heart Spirits, Matakana Gin and Matahui Distillery.
Out of the 79 Gold and Double Golds awarded, 48 were to New Zealand distilled product – an increase of 19% on the previous year.
“There are more Gold and Double Gold medals awarded to New Zealand distilled product than ever before,” says Spirits New Zealand Chief Executive, Robert Brewer.
“And when you consider that one entire category is for Scotch and Irish Traditional whiskey, then the result is even more pronounced.”
The Awards are hosted by industry bodies Spirits New Zealand and Distilled Spirits Aotearoa, with Fever-tree as the premier partner.
Trophies for the best of the best in each category will be awarded at a gala dinner to be held in Auckland on 13 September.
For the full list of medal award winners, click here.
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