The Gin Guide Awards 2025 - Entry Categories

The Gin Guide Awards celebrates gins and distilleries through the following sets of categories. Please ensure you have read the full descriptions of each category before entering your gin(s) to ensure that they are placed in the most suitable category:

Tasting categories
Geographic categories
Distillery & Product Awards
Cocktail categories
Design & Branding category
The Gin Guide Bursary Award

If you are unsure if your gin is eligible for a category, please contact [email protected] before entering.

Tasting Categories

These categories are defined by the taste, character and quality of the gin:

Traditional Gin: Unmistakably juniper-forward gins with a traditional flavour profile and botanicals (e.g. juniper, angelica root, coriander seeds, citrus) and without prominent contemporary botanicals. Entries may be produced using traditional or contemporary production methods. Minimum 37.5% ABV.
Contemporary Gin: Gins with prominent juniper alongside non-traditional botanicals or flavour profiles (e.g. bold floral or herbal profiles). Entries may be produced using traditional or contemporary production methods. Excludes Flavoured or Infused Gins and Barrel Aged Gins. Minimum 37.5% ABV.
Aged Gin: Gins aged in wooden barrels or aged with wood chips or staves. Minimum 37.5% ABV

Flavoured / Infused Gin: Gins with identifiable juniper and prominent natural flavours of fruit, flowers or other botanicals from which flavour is achieved through distillation, infusion or blending. Excludes gin liqueurs. Minimum 37.5% ABV.

High ABV / Navy Strength Gin: Gins bottled at 54% ABV or above (max. 70% ABV).

Old Tom Gin: Gins in the traditional Old Tom style, sweetened botanically or post-distillation, and labelled as an 'Old Tom Gin'. Excludes Flavoured Gins. Minimum 37.5% ABV.

Spiced Gin (Winter Spice & Festive Spice): Gins with clearly identifiable juniper and a prominent focus on a combination of traditional winter and/or festive spice botanicals. Asian-spiced gins are eligible in the Contemporary Gin category. Minimum 37.5% ABV

International Awards

These categories are defined by the distillation location of the gin:

African Gin: Gins distilled and bottled within Africa.
Asian Gin: Gins distilled and bottled within Asia.
Australasian Gin: Gins distilled and bottled within Australia or New Zealand.
British Gin: Gins distilled and bottled within England, Scotland and Wales.
European Gin: Gins distilled and bottled within Europe.
North American Gin: Gins distilled and bottled within the USA or Canada.
South & Central American Gin: Gins distilled and bottled within South America, Central America or the Caribbean.

Country Categories: Additional national and regional Awards are awarded for all countries and geographical regions from which the threshold number of entries are received. For example, see the 2024 International Awards results.

Distillery & Product Awards

These categories are Awarded to distilleries entering multiple products and achieving the highest average scores across their entries:

Distillery of the Year Award: Awarded to the distillery whose gin range (3 or more entries across 2 or more categories in The Gin Guide Awards 2025) has achieved the highest average score. The Winner receives the Glencairn Glass 'Distillery of the Year 2025' Trophy.
New Distillery of the Year Award: Awarded to the distillery launched in 2024 whose gins (2 or more entries in The Gin Guide Awards 2025) have achieved the highest average score. The Winner receives the coveted Glencairn Glass 'New Distillery of the Year 2025' Trophy.

Product of the Year Award: Awarded to the gin which achieves the highest combined score from its blind tasting category together with the Design & Branding category.
The Gin Guide Bursary Award: Awarded to an up and coming distillery based on tasting scores, design scores and the panel's assessment of their potential. The Winner will receive a package of support to aid and boost their growth, including 1 free year of Membership of The Gin Guide (including a Profile page, review, interview feature, promotion on social media and in the Gin Newsletter, and inclusion in key guides), plus product development guidance and feedback, and marketing and branding consultancy.

Cocktail Categories

Martini Category (additional cost - £85 per gin)
Each gin entered into this category is judged as a Martini made with a 6:1 ratio of gin to Dolin vermouth. The Winners in this category will also be eligible to be part of the 'World's Best Martini 2025' judging later in the year.

Negroni Category (additional cost - £85 per gin)
Each gin entered into this category is judged as a Negroni made with equal measures of gin, Campari and Cocchi Vermouth di Torino. The Winners in this category will also be eligible to be part of the 'World's Best Negroni 2025' judging later in the year.

Design & Branding Award

Design & Branding Award (additional cost - £95)
For the gins with the most outstanding combination of branding, bottling, labelling, presentation, and related brand activity and materials. Judged by gin industry professionals and specialists in spirits marketing, PR, retail and merchandising.

You will be contacted after entry for additional information to support your entry into these categories. You can view the Information Form in advance here.