London Spirits Competition is known to push the benchmark a notch higher every edition. It is one of the only few awards around the world that puts the consumers at the centre of its judging process. The award criteria are designed based on how customer decisions are made in bars, breweries, and distilleries around the world. Quality of the spirit, packaging of the spirit, and its value for money are all that matter. This helps breweries, and distilleries put their loved spirits on the map, and buyers and bar owners put the money where the demand is. 

Winners in the London Spirits Competition receive either a Gold, Silver, or Bronze award and are supported by a strong consumer awareness campaign, particularly through social media channels and spirits comparison apps, to promote this new global competition.

The 2022 London Spirits Competition saw a whopping 447 entries from the United Kingdom as the top entrant country, followed by 323 products from Australia and 160 from the United States. 771 Gin entries made Gin the top category entrant followed by Whiskey and Rum.

Apart from the three medals i.e Gold, Silver, or Bronze, spirits are also tested for special category awards like Spirit Of The Year, Vodka Of The Year, Rum Of The Year, Tequila Of The Year, Gin Of The Year, Whisky Of The Year, Brandy Of The Year, Liqueur Of The Year, Cognac Of The Year, Distillery Of The Year, Best In Show By Country, Best Spirits Of The Year By Quality, Best Spirits Of The Year By Value and Best Spirits Of The Year By Package

Here are some big winners at the 2022 London Spirits Competition:

Bareksten Navy Strength Gin

Bareksten Navy Strength Gin from Norway is produced by master distiller Stig Bareksten and his team at the Oss Craft Distillery in Flesland, a mere stone’s throw from Bergen airport, and was commended by the judges for its “spicy, full-bodied flavour” with a “long, smooth finish” and “stylish packaging”. This gin is an earthy spirit with a complexity that derives from botanicals including juniper, coriander, blueberries and elderberry flowers, as well as rhubarb and lingonberries. Bareksten Navy Strength Gin won a Gold Medal with 98 points at the 2022 London Spirits Competition. It was also crowned with the Spirit of the Year 2022, Gin of the Year, Best Spirit by Quality, and Best Spirit by Package.

Samuel Gelston's Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Gelston’s Old Irish Whiskey was founded in 1830 by Samuel Gelston, a prosperous wine and whiskey merchant from Belfast. Samuel Gelston’s Single Malt, a non-age statement Single Malt, matured in ex-bourbon casks, is a versatile premium whiskey. With a savoury spice note coming to the fore, this expression is perfect served neat, or adding a unique character to your favourite whiskey cocktail or Irish Coffee. The Samuel Gelston's Single Malt Irish Whiskey won Best Spirit by Value, and Best in Show by Country category for Ireland alongside winning 93 points and a Gold Medal.

Spirit Hound Straight Malt Whiskey

Spirit Hound Straight Malt Whiskey consists of barley and peated malt. The whisky ages for a minimum of two years in new, full-size, charred American Oak barrels. Fresh Rocky Mountain water is used to cut the proof and the whisky is bottled in a single barrel.

Spirit Hound Straight Malt Whiskey won 96 points and a Gold Medal at the 2022 London Spirits Competition. It also won Whisky of the Year and Best in Show by Country for the United States.

Other winners include:

Best Vodka of The Year 2022: Vestal Vodka, Poland

Best Rum of The Year 2022: Rum Nation Panama 21 Aged Years, Panama

Best Tequila of The Year 2022: Tequila Don Fulano Imperial, Mexico

Best Gin of The Year 2022: Bareksten Navy Strength Gin, Norway

Best Brandy of The Year 2022: Grappa Riserva Invecchiata in Botti da Whiskey, Italy

Best Liqueur of The Year 2022: Amaro San Marco, Italy

Best Cognac of The Year 2022: Ferrand Cognac 1840 Original Formula, France

The entries for the 2023 London Spirits Competition are now open. Click here to sign up and win big!