The Gin Masters 2024 – Second Tasting results

Such is the popularity of the gin sector that our Masters competition is split into two sections, so as not to overwhelm our judges’ taste buds with the sheer number of entries.

While some key gin markets are slowing down, the category, overall, remains in rude health. In 2023, gin consumption globally was up by almost a quarter (24%) compared with 2019, according to data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. Last year gin sales by volume rose by 4% on the previous year. While this is slower than the 8% recorded in the year prior, it shows the gin category is still moving in the desired direction: upwards.

Over the past few years, The Gin Masters has grown into a behemoth of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions. To ensure ample time to taste each entry, the blind tasting is split into two portions. The first edition takes place in June, while the second part is held in November.

Three judging panels were assembled at Hovarda Canary Wharf, London, to assess the second portion of the tasting – and to take on the important task of choosing The Gin Taste Master 2024.

The first panel included: Lauren Eads, freelance drinks writer; Ruchira Neotia, drinks consultant and founder of Neo Margarita; and Marie Cheong-Thong, food and beverage educator and founder of The Larder at 36. Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business, and chair of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions, chaired the group.

A second team comprised: Dan Greifer, Black Parrot bar supervisor; Steph DiCamillo, owner of Wine & Such and independent drinks stylist; and David T Smith, spirits writer, consultant, and co-founder of the Craft Distilling Expo.

The third and final team included: Nicolle Smith, spirits judge; Sara-Jane Eichler, founder of Negroni Club UK; and Anthony Gladman, author of Gin A Tasting Course. Sarah Miller, founder of the Gin A Ding Ding blog, chaired the group.

Sweet aroma

The opening flight of The Gin Masters – Second Tasting was Standard expressions, priced up to £15 (around US$19) per bottle.

A Gold medal and two Silver awards were delivered, with the Gold medal awarded to Pure Origin Tasmanian Gin. This gin impressed, with its “sweet aroma, light floral notes and good juniper levels” on the palate.

Two more Gold medals were unearthed in the following flight, Premium (£16-£20). The first went to Hrafn Gin Drakkar. The judges said this was “very gold-standard – a nice amount of juniper, some liquorice and star anise, which mellows out with a hint of sweetness”. The second Gold medal was awarded to Farmer’s Reserve Strength Gin with “bold juniper and liquorice” flavours. Three Silvers completed the flight.

An even split of Gold and Silver medals were awarded in the Super Premium (£21-£35) heat, with four of each. Du Nord Social Spirits secured Gold medals for its Prominence Gin and Prominence Barreled Gin. The latter medallist was enjoyed for “oak and vanilla” aromas, with “spice on the palate, complexity and a sustained finish”.

Eden Mill Original Gin and Eden Mill Golf Gin also collected Gold awards. The Golf Gin edition was praised for “wonderfully oily citrus notes on the nose, lemon peel and big pepper notes on the palate”.

In the most expensive segment of the tasting – Ultra Premium (£36-plus) – a duo of gins secured the top Master award. La Martiniquaise-Bardinet collected a Master medal for Generous Gin Original. Tasting notes included “orange blossom, citrus zest and juniper, with a hint of spice”. The judges also noted the “good mouthfeel”, and its “mixing potential”.

Good Gin Company also secured a Master medal for Heritage Classique Gin, with complex flavours of “rose and spice, cardamom, Szechuan pepper, and a long finish”. Seven Gold medals and three Silvers completed the flight.

Among the Gold winners were Martin Miller’s Westbourne, Australian Distilling Co Shiraz, and Santamanía Gin. “There were really great options in this round if you want to seek out something different,” said Eads.

After assessing the gins by price point, the entries were categorised by style. Up first came a flight of London Dry gins, which produced a plethora of Master winners – five to be exact.

Gordon & MacPhail’s Red Door Gin was among the Master winners. Eads described the Scottish gin as “very well balanced, despite the higher ABV”. Cheong-Thong added: “This is a gorgeous London Dry: rosemary, candied stem ginger, coriander seed, and a welcome gentian bitterness.”

Osaka Gin also collected a Master medal for being “elegant, with meadowsweet and bison grass, and good intensity of flavour”.

A Master medal also went to Cheshire-based 13 Oaks for its London Dry Gin, which opened with “cardamom, spice and some popped corn” on the nose, leading to a “distinctive and intensely flavoured palate of cardamom, lemon zest, and a nice waxy texture”.

Neotia enthused: “Really lovely, perfect for a Martini.”

The remaining two Masters of the heat went to gins by Kiss of Immortality: Heaven & Hell Inspired by Lušt Tomato London Dry Gin, and Murska Dekla London Dry Gin. The former was praised for its “lovely lush herbaceous notes on the nose”, which carried through to the palate. Additional tasting notes included “citrus and soft pine”.

Eleven Gold medals and six Silver medals closed the flight. The Gold winners included “classic, with strong juniper” Highclere Castle Gin, “oily with some spice” Kyflinge London Dry Gin, and “citrusy, oily” Celtic Whisper Dry Gin. “This showed how different and versatile London Dry can be,” said Eichler. “The category has moved far from what ‘classic’ used to be, but it still has lots of juniper goodness.”

The high standard continued as the judges looked at the Contemporary flight of gins. Three more Masters were added to the table.

Caruso Brothers Distilling took a Master medal home for its Truth Modern Dry Gin. Smith said about the gin: “Solid, succulent with a sightliness and a touch of cucumber. Well-integrated flavours, well-balanced with good mixability.”

A Master medal was also handed to Fou Gin by Spiritueux. Greifer said enthusiastically: “The balance is insane; it is both dry, sweet and citrusy all at the same time. The pop of juniper is still strong.” A third Master medal was delivered to Sur 34 Gin by Sacramento Spirits. On the nose, the judges found “a mixture of savoury greenness and spiced sweetness”. Flavours included “caraway seed, cumin, fennel and lots of yuzu citrus”.

Seven Gold medals and four Silver awards completed the Contemporary round. Gold medal winners included Alma Luz Distillery Dry Gin for being “aromatic, floral with bright citrus and subtle spice”.

Reflecting on the flight, Neotia said: “With the vastness of the gin category, contemporary gins need to be risk-taking. But are we at a point where we’ve done it all? It is harder to buck the trend when previous trends are being normalised. Those medallists who performed well still feel fresh and new, and like they’re bringing a point of difference to the category.”

Lovely long finish

In the Microdistillery round, Louisville Dry Gin scored a Gold medal for its “delicious sweet spice and cardamom on the palate, leading to a lovely long finish”.

In the Cask-Aged flight, the medal tally ended at one Master, two Golds, and a Silver. The top award was presented to Mylta Cask Edition 2023 by Sweden’s Revsunds Distillery. “Silky, moreish. A gin for the whisky aficionado. The balance is impeccable at 48% ABV,” praised Neotia. Eads added: “The strong juniper character was supported beautifully by undertones of sweet vanilla. Beautifully crafted.”

The alcohol strengths were turned up a notch as the judges moved on to a flight of Navy Strength gin. The high ABVs resulted in high scores and four Master winners. In Schnaps Baden bagged a Master medal for its “wonderful mix of complex spice on the nose”, and with a touch of water “the herbaceous notes just explode”. “This is wonderful,” complimented Eichler.

Master-winning Heritage Amber Gin was enjoyed for being a “lightly aromatic” gin, with “waxiness” on the palate and “a hint of tonka bean”. Revsunds Distillery’s Forsa Navy Strength also secured the Master award, and was described by the judges as “fragrant and oily, with some citrus. Bold and intense.”

The fourth Master in this flight was awarded to Broken Bones Navy Strength Gin. “Wonderfully herbaceous nose,” the judges noted. “Big and oily, lots of green vibrancy. Bursting with juniper, complex and an almost menthol-like finish.” Three Gold medals rounded off the flight.

“A very strong flight with excellent samples demonstrating high-ABV gins can be smooth and characterful,” said Miller.

In the Organic heat, Stelvio Gin Organic won a Gold medal after impressing with inviting notes of “fresh fennel, dill and juniper”. In the Pink Gin flight, two Silver medals were awarded, to “fruity, berry-forward” Pinkster Gin and “jammy, strawberry” Mayfair Pink Gin. Securing a Gold medal in the Sloe Gin flight, Hayman’s Sloe Gin had a touch of “cocoa” on the finish. The judges liked how the “sloe berries really pop through”.

The final flight of the day looked at a selection of Flavoured Gins, which resulted in two Gold medals and four Silvers. Kaiza 5 Gin was one of the Gold recipients, after the judges enjoyed “lovely sherbet-like yuzu on the nose, which carried onto the palate with a lovely peppery finish”.

The second Gold was awarded to 13 Oaks Summer Breeze Gin, which had “blackcurrant notes, some herbaceous elements, and pine”.

After breaking to refresh their palates, the judges regrouped to taste the Master winners from the first and second parts of The Gin Masters 2024. Commanding the majority vote was Swedish gin brand Hernö, which had been sampled in the initial tasting. It claimed the Gin Taste Master title for another year with its navy strength bottling. Judges said it was: “Very expressive, big and focused but beautifully balanced. Full of flavour, classic juniper, some pine, and citrus.”

A note made by the judges across the tasting was there remains a high level of different botanicals, flavours and styles of gin emanating from the category. By and large the quality level is also there. Provided this continues, despite slowdowns, the judges are sure there is still a bright future for gin.

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Company	Product	Medal
Hernö Gin Distillery	Hernö Navy Strength Gin	Master & Taste Master

 

Standard
Company	Product	Medal
Coles Liquor Group	Pure Origin Tasmanian Gin	Gold
Casa Redondo	The Foxtale	Silver
Aldi UK	Toradh Rhubarb & Ginger Gin	Silver

 

Premium
Company	Product	Medal
Raven Spirits	Hrafn Gin Drakkar	Gold
Chatham Imports	Farmer’s Reserve Strength Gin	Gold
Gran Torino 1861	Originario	Silver
Quinta de Ventozelo	Ventozelo Craft Dry Gin	Silver
Lanuar	GinGerArt	Silver

 

Super Premium
Company	Product	Medal
Du Nord Social Spirits	Prominence Gin	Gold
Du Nord Social Spirits	Prominence Barreled Gin	Gold
Eden Mill St Andrews	Original Gin	Gold
Eden Mill St Andrews	Golf Gin	Gold
Eden Mill St Andrews	Love Gin	Silver
Ayrton & Aaron	RD/19 Dry Gin	Silver
The Sloth Company	Sloth Gin	Silver
Destileria Conclave	Gin Bastardo	Silver

 

Ultra Premium
Company	Product	Medal
La Martiniquaise-Bardinet	Generous Gin Original	Master
Good Gin Company	Heritage Classique Gin	Master
Distillerie Bonollo Umberto	Gin Ballor	Gold
Zamora Company	Martin Miller’s Westbourne	Gold
Australian Distilling Co	Australian Distilling Co Shiraz Gin	Gold
Australian Distilling Co	Australian Distilling Co Geelong Gin	Gold
Nicholson	Nicholson Blood Orange Gin (Limited Edition)	Gold
Destileria De Madrid	Santamanía Gin	Gold
Pure Distilled Spirit Company	Smeaton’s Bristol Method Dry Gin	Gold
Australian Distilling Co	Australian Distilling Co Blood Orange Gin	Silver
Australian Distilling Co	Australian Distilling Co Australian Gin	Silver
Cap Gin	Cap Gin	Silver

 

London Dry
Company	Product	Medal
Gordon & MacPhail	Red Door Gin	Master
Mikuni	Osaka Gin	Master
13 Oaks Gin	London Dry Gin	Master
Kiss of Immortality	Heaven & Hell Inspired by Lust Tomato London Dry Gin	Master
Kiss of Immortality	Murska Dekla London Dry Gin	Master
Kiss of Immortality	Heaven & Hell Gold 47 London Dry Gin	Gold
Collymoon Craft	Solas An Earraich	Gold
Mic Drop Sweden	Mic Drop Classic	Gold
Highclere Castle Spirits	Highclere Castle Gin	Gold
The Old G	The Old G	Gold
Kyflinge Gin	Kyflinge London Dry Gin	Gold
Revsunds Distillery	Celtic Whisper Dry Gin	Gold

 

London Dry, continued
Company	Product	Medal
Cap Gin	Cap Gin	Gold
820 Spirits	820 London Dry Gin	Gold
Thoran Distillery	Marberg Dry Gin	Gold
Madrona Distillery	Dry Gin	Gold
La Martiniquaise-Bardinet	Gibson’s London Dry	Silver
Stokerij Snoeck	Gin Stokerij Snoeck	Silver
Spirito Artigiano – Lucanian Distillery	Frido Gin London Dry	Silver
Coles Liquor Group	Mayfair London Dry Gin	Silver
Forty Spotted Gin	Classic Tassie Gin	Silver
Nicholson	Nicholson London Dry Gin	Silver

 

Contemporary
Company	Product	Medal
Caruso Brothers Distilling	Truth Modern Dry Gin	Master
Spiritueux	Fou Gin	Master
Sacramento Spirits	Sur 34 Gin	Master
Gran Torino 1861	Originario	Gold
Nikle Co	Nikle Gin	Gold
Alma Spirits	Alma Luz Distillery Dry Gin	Gold
Ginagain Spirits	Ginagain 02	Gold
Kyflinge Gin	Kyflinge Zesty Orange Gin	Gold
Forty Spotted Gin	Forty Spotted Citrus & Pepperberry	Gold
Padstow Distilling	Padstow Gin ‘St George’s Well’	Gold
Caruso Brothers Distilling	Truth Modern Dry Gin	Silver
The Sloth Company	Sloth Gin	Silver
820 Spirits	820 Blackberry Gin	Silver
Round Turn Distilling	Bimini Coconut	Silver

 

Microdistillery
Company	Product	Medal
Ginkins Distillery	Louisville Dry Gin	Gold

 

Cask-Aged
Company	Product	Medal
Revsunds Distillery	Mylta Cask Edition 2023	Master
Duh u Boci	Old Pilot’s Barrel Aged Gin	Gold
820 Spirits	The Whisper – Limited Edition 82-day Aged Gin	Gold
Thoran Distillery	Marberg Barrel Aged Gin	Silver

 

Navy Strength
Company	Product	Medal
Simon Alber Spirits	In Schnaps Baden	Master
Good Gin Company	Heritage Amber Gin	Master
Revsunds Distillery	Forsa Navy Strength	Master
Broken Bones	Broken Bones Navy Strength Gin	Master
Kyflinge Gin	Kyflinge Navy Gin	Gold
Thoran Distillery	Marberg Coast Guard Gin	Gold
Spirito Artigiano – Lucanian Distillery	Frido Gin Navy Strength	Gold

 

Organic
Company	Product	Medal
Agri Sielva Stelvio	Stelvio Gin Organic	Gold

 

Pink Gin
Company	Product	Medal
Pinkster Drinks Company	Pinkster Gin	Silver
Coles Liquor Group	Mayfair Pink Gin	Silver

 

Sloe
Company	Product	Medal
Hayman’s of London	Hayman’s Sloe Gin	Gold

 

Flavoured Gin
Company	Product	Medal
Kaiza 5	Kaiza 5 Gin	Gold
13 Oaks Gin	Summer Breeze	Gold
13 Oaks Gin	Pink Citrus	Silver
13 Oaks Gin	Spiced	Silver
La Martiniquaise-Bardinet	Gibson’s Italian Lemon	Silver
Caruso Brothers Distilling	Truth Scarlet Gin	Silver

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