The 2026 International London Spirits Competition has officially concluded its ninth edition, celebrating excellence across the global spirits industry. This year, No.3 Gin emerged as the standout performer, securing the prestigious Spirit of the Year title alongside a Double Gold Medal and an impressive 98-point score—a remarkable achievement that underscores its quality, value, and presentation.

Crafted by Berry Bros. & Rudd—one of the oldest wine and spirits merchants in the UK—and distributed globally in partnership with Edrington, No.3 Gin reflects a legacy of craftsmanship dating back over 320 years. Developed over two years in collaboration with Dr David Clutton and leading mixologists, the gin was designed to be a benchmark London Dry Gin, ideal for classic serves like the Martini. 

Its iconic packaging, inspired by the historic No.3 St James’s Street address in London, further reinforces its premium positioning. This year’s win cements No.3 Gin’s reputation as one of the world’s finest gins, excelling across all judging parameters.

No.3 Gin of Holland wins the top spirit at the 2026 London Spirits Competition

Now in its ninth edition, the international London Spirits Competition continues to raise the bar, evaluating entries not just on taste, but on their value for money and packaging. 

The competition drew entries from more than 30 countries, with particularly strong representation from the UK, Australia, India, Italy, USA, Mexico and Netherlands among others— reflecting the increasingly global character of the spirits industry. The LSC saw gins, whiskies, liqueurs, rum and vodka as the most entered categories, followed by tequilas, RTDs and other no and low beverages.

This year’s judging brought together over 70 top industry experts, including Master Distillers, Master Blenders, Mixologists, and elite buyers. The panel featured names like Stephanie Macleod (Master Blender and Director of Blending, Scotch Whisky for Bacardi), Andrew de Lavis-Trafford (Director of Buying Spirits, Beers, Softs & Champagne at Enotria Winecellars Ltd, UK), Nick Larsson-Bell (Retail Buyer of the Year 2022 Senior Spirits and Beer Buyer at Harvey Nichols), Enrico Chiappini (Senior Bartender at Dukes Hotel),  Georgios Chaziris (Head Bartender at Soho House & Co), Billy Leighton (Master Blender Emeritus at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard), Christian Maspes (Food and Beverage specialist, Sake sommelier & Educator, Bar project developer), Laura Willoughby MBE (Low and No Alcoholic Drinks Buyer, Founder of Club Soda, The Mindful Drinking Movement) and Craig Wallace (Whisky Creation Leader and Master Blender at Diageo), lending exceptional credibility and insight to the process. 

These judges brought a wealth of experience from various sectors, including hospitality, retail, and education, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of each entry.

“I spent a couple of days at LSC, judging some fantastic spirits from across the world! It is a wonderful judging event that takes into account not just the liquid, but also the packaging and retail price. A great one for us buyers!”

- Nick Larsson-Bell, Senior Spirits and Beer Buyer at Harvey Nichols.

2026 London Competition Judges

World-Class Judging Panel

The judging panel included some of the UK’s most respected voices in spirits, hospitality, and the drinks trade. Judges included:​

• Andrew de Lavis-Trafford – Head of Buying Spirits, Beers & Softs at Enotria Winecellars Ltd, UK

• Stephanie Macleod- Master Blender and Director of Blending, Scotch Whisky for Bacardi

• Claudia Carrozzi – Head of Beverage at Cunard and UKBG President

• Nick Larsson-Bell – Senior Spirits and Beer Buyer at Harvey Nichols

• Cristiana Pirinu- Assistant Director of Mixology - The Donovan Bar

• Nuno Simões– Luxury Bar & Beverage Manager at The Royal Bell

• Craig Wallace – Whisky Creation Leader and Master Blender at Diageo

• Francesco Colucci – Head Bartender at Ginger Lily Pan Pacific London

• Nelson Reis – Retail Duty Manager at Speciality Drinks Group

• Billy Leighton – Master Blender Emeritus at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

• Christian Maspes – Food and Beverage specialist, Sake sommelier & Educator, Bar project developer.

• Dennis Sadovyak – Bar Manager at The Wolseley Hospitality Group

• Barbara SC – Spirits Advisor at The Whisky Exchange

• Stephanie Wallace – Whisky Specialist Team at Diageo

• David Wood – Founder at Liana Collection - IWSC Drinks Distributor of the Year 2023

View the full list of judges here.

Standout Winners from 2026 Include:

• Spirit of the Year: No.3 Gin – Holland, Double Gold - 98 Points

• Best Spirit by Quality: Bareksten Navy Strength Gin – Norway, Double Gold - 97 Points

• Best Spirit by Package: CandeGIN Gentle – Italy, Gold - 94 Points

• Best Spirit by Value: Żubrówka Vanilla Flavoured Vodka – Poland, Double Gold - 98 Points

• Gin of the Year: Clarity Navy Gin – New Zealand, Double Gold - 98 Points

• Vodka of the Year: Żubrówka Vanilla Flavoured Vodka – Poland, Double Gold - 98 Points

• Rum of the Year: Kakira Dark Rum – Uganda, Double Gold - 96 Points

• Liqueur of the Year: Martin Albus Liker OD Višnje – Croatia, Double Gold - 97 Points

• Tequila of the Year: Herradura Reposado – Mexico, Double Gold - 96 Points

• Cognaco of The Year: Courvoisier VS – France, Gold - 95 Points

• Whiskey of the Year: Root Shoot American Single Malt – United States, Double Gold - 97 Points

• Single Malt Whiskey Of The Year: The Donn – Ireland, Double Gold - 96 Points

Commenting on the results, London Competitions CEO Sid Patel said:

“At the London Spirits Competition, a winning spirit must excel in quality, offer outstanding value for money, and be packaged in a way that truly connects with today’s consumer. What makes this competition unique is that all products are judged by the highest level of trade professionals—bartenders, bar managers, and buyers—who understand what sells and what delights customers. Our winners represent the very best of the global spirits industry.” 

— Sid Patel, CEO, London Spirits Competition.​

View the full list of winners for 2026:

https://londonspiritscompetition.com/en/competition-global-results/2026/

About the London Spirits Competition

Now in its ninth year, the International London Spirits Competition continues to set the benchmark for Spirits judging, by focusing on what truly matters in today’s market—quality, value, and consumer appeal. Built to reflect real-world buying decisions, the competition recognizes spirits that are not only technically excellent but also commercially viable in competitive retail and on-trade environments.

2026 International London Spirits Competition Judges, London

Judging Criteria: Built for the Real Market

At the International London Spirits Competition, medals are awarded based on a weighted composite score derived from the competition’s three core judging criteria—Quality, Value, and Packaging.

To reflect the importance of how the spirit tastes and performs in the glass, Quality is given double weight in the final score calculation.

The scoring formula is as follows: Final Score = (2 × Quality + Value + Packaging) ÷ 4

This approach ensures that while all three criteria are important, the drinking experience remains the most critical factor, while still accounting for price positioning and shelf appeal. 

Each spirit is independently evaluated by multiple judges, and scores are aggregated to ensure consistency, fairness, and accuracy. Medals are awarded only to spirits that meet strict scoring thresholds.

• Double Gold Medal (96–100 Points)
The highest honor awarded by the competition, Double Gold is reserved for exceptional spirits that demonstrate outstanding quality across all judging parameters. These are products that stand out unanimously among judges and are considered best-in-class examples with strong market potential.

• Gold Medal (90–95 Points)
Gold medals are awarded to spirits that show excellent craftsmanship, balance, and strong value positioning. These spirits perform at a high level across all criteria and are highly recommended for both trade buyers and consumers.

• Silver Medal (85–89 Points)
Silver medals recognize very good spirits that demonstrate solid quality and commercial appeal. These spirits are well-made, competitive within their category, and suitable for a wide range of market placements.

• Bronze Medal (80–84 Points)
Bronze medals are awarded to spirits that meet good quality standards and show clear potential in the market, offering a reliable and enjoyable drinking experience with appropriate value.

This structured scoring system ensures that all medal winners from the London Spirits Competition are not only technically sound but also commercially relevant, helping buyers and distributors identify products that are ready to succeed in today’s global spirits market.

2026 London Spirits Competition Judging

A Truly International Platform

With entries submitted from distilleries around the world and judging hosted in London—one of the most influential global hubs for spirits, hospitality, and trade—the competition offers brands a powerful gateway to international recognition and new market opportunities. Winning at the International London Spirits Competition signals to buyers that a product meets the standards required for both quality and commercial success, making it a valuable endorsement for expanding distribution globally.

Why This Competition Matters

The competition is organized by Beverage Trade Network, a global platform connecting the beverage industry through events, competitions, and media. With a strong footprint across the USA, UK, and international markets, Beverage Trade Network brings deep industry expertise and a buyer-focused approach to all its competitions. Its mission is to help brands grow their distribution by giving them direct exposure to key trade buyers, importers, distributors, and hospitality professionals.