The Gin Guide Awards 2021 - Entry Categories

The Gin Guide Awards 2022 - Entry Categories

The Gin Guide Awards are an independent and global celebration of our historic, diverse and growing spirits category. Recognised and respected by the trade and consumers across the world, The Gin Guide Awards showcase and celebrate the exceptional products, distilleries and people within the gin industry.

For each category, Finalists are selected before global Winners are then selected, as well as Highly Commended Gins. In the 'Production' and 'Style' categories a highest scorer for each applicable continent and country will also be named. Up to 3 overall Winners will be selected for each tasting category.

If you are unsure if your gin is eligible for a category, please contact awards@theginguide.com or +44 7846 807105 before entering.

Tasting Categories

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

Traditional Gin: Unmistakably juniper-forward gins with traditional flavour profiles & botanicals (e.g. juniper, angelica root, orris root, coriander seeds, citrus) and no prominence of contemporary botanicals. Minimum 37.5% ABV.
Contemporary Gin: Gins with prominent juniper alongside non-traditional botanicals or flavour profiles (e.g. bold floral or herbal profiles). Excludes Flavoured Gins, Signature Botanical Gins and Barrel Aged Gins. Minimum 37.5% ABV.
Navy Strength / High ABV Gin: Gins bottled at 57% ABV or above (max. 70% ABV).
Flavoured / Infused Gin: Gins with identifiable juniper and prominent natural flavours of fruit or other botanicals from which flavour is achieved through distillation, infusion or blending. Excludes gin liqueurs. Minimum 37.5% ABV.
Sloe Gin: Gins infused with sloes as the sole flavour or as the prominent flavour alongside damsons and/or spices. ABV must be between 25% and 35% ABV.
Spiced Gin: Gins with clearly identifiable juniper alongside and a prominent focus on a combination of spice botanicals. Minimum 37.5% ABV.
Old Tom Gin: Gins in the traditional Old Tom style, sweetened in distillation or post-distillation. If the gin is not labelled as an Old Tom, please contact the team to confirm suitability for this category. Excludes Flavoured Gins. Minimum 37.5% ABV.
Aged Gin: Gins aged in wooden barrels or aged with wood chips or staves. Minimum 37.5% ABV.

Distillery Awards

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

Distillery of the Year Award: For the distillery whose gin range (3 entries or more) achieves the highest score across multiple categories. The Winner is awarded an engraved Glencairn Crystal trophy.
New Distillery of the Year Award: For the distillery launched in 2021 whose gin range (2 entries or more) achieves the highest score across multiple categories. The Winner is awarded an engraved Glencairn Crystal trophy.

Regional Awards

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

African Gin: Gins produced and bottled within Africa.
Asian Gin: Gins produced and bottled within Asia.
Australasian Gin: Gins produced and bottled within Australia or New Zealand.
British Gin: Gins produced and bottled within Britain.
European Gin: Gins produced and bottled within Europe (inc. UK).
North American Gin: Gins produced and bottled within the USA or Canada.
South & Central American Gin: Gins produced and bottled within the South America, Central America or the Caribbean.

Country Categories: Additional national and regional Awards are established for all countries and geographical regions from which the threshold number of entries are received. For example, see the 2021 International Awards results.

Design & Sustainability Awards

Design & Branding Award (additional cost - £80): 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 spirits marketing, PR, retail and merchandising specialists.
Environmental Sustainability Award (no additional cost): For the gins most effectively, uncompromisingly and measurably introducing and using processes and materials for sustainability, waste reduction and limiting environmental impact. Judged by industry specialists and sustainability experts.

You will be contacted after entry for additional information to support your entry into these categories.

Industry Choice Awards

Sponsored by Joseph Flach & Sons - Global Wholesale Supplier of Botanicals

The following categories are not open for entry and are shortlisted and voted for by The Gin Guide judging panel, industry writers and bloggers:

The Spirit of Gin Award
Industry Choice Award - Gin
Industry Choice Award - Distillery
Industry Choice Award - Event
Industry Choice Award - Innovation

The Gin to My Tonic Bursary Award

This hugely valuable award is presented to a tasting category Winner in The Gin Guide Awards 2022 and is selected by The Gin To My Tonic team and Head Judge, Paul Jackson, based on detailed criteria including Judging scores and characteristics of branding and future potential. With the aim of nurturing and supporting up-and-coming distilleries, the Winner will benefit from a generous program of promotional activities with The Gin To My Tonic, such as a free stand at one of TGTMT's flagship shows, inclusion in a TGTMT virtual gin tasting, and being stocked behind TGTMT's festival bars.

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