Scottish Gin Awards 2019 finalists revealed - did your favourite make the list?

In May this year, an experienced and respected panel of experts from across the gin industry in the UK had the enviable task of tasting and judging each category.

How does the judging work?

https://twitter.com/ScotGinAwards/status/1133367283139710976

A judging panel of 20 experts blind tasted and graded every sample under strict technical conditions.

Led by the competition’s technical consultants, sensory management experts Cara Technology, the panel assessed 173 gins entered in the competition, all distilled in Scotland.

Four distilleries will compete for the ultimate award - the Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year.

These are: Crafty Scottish Distillers (Hills & Harbour), Dunnet Bay Distillers (Rock Rose), Edinburgh Gin and McQueen Gin.

Chair of the judging panel, Alex Bruce, Managing Director of Adelphi Distillery commented: “To make it to the final stage of the Scottish Gin Awards is a huge achievement.

"The gins which have progressed to the final had to achieve a high standard of marks in a rigorous tasting session, whilst the finalists we have selected in the business awards clearly demonstrate the strength and depth which is so evident in Scottish gin distilling today.

"I congratulate all the finalists announced today in what has been a very tough competition and I look forward celebrating with the industry in October.”

Founder of the Scottish Gin Awards, Kirsten Speirs, Director of KDMedia, said: “This competition gives us a totally unique and detailed insight into the good health of the thriving Scottish gin market.

"The combination of the business information received and the blind tasting is able to produce highly regarded recommendations on the best quality products and best performing businesses.

"Congratulations to all our finalists and we look forward to raising a Scottish gin and tonic to you this evening.”

When will the award ceremony take place?

The Scottish Gin Awards annual celebration and dinner will be held on Thursday 10 October 2019 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Glasgow Central and will see over 700 guests from the industry attend.

The awards have nominated two new charities this year which will be supported by the event.

The BEN, the Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, set up by rugby legend Doddie Weir to help improve the lives of those affected by Motor Neuron Disease.

The full list of finalists

Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year sponsored by ALDI

Crafty Scottish Distillers (Hills and Harbour) Dunnet Bay Distillers (Rock Rose) Edinburgh Gin McQueen Gin

Best Newcomer sponsored by Kimia UK

Badvo Distillery Fidra Gin Glaswegin Distilling Co GlenWyvis Distillery Ice and Fire Distillery The Pentland Still The Port of Leith Distillery The Wee Farm Distillery

Growth Business of the Year sponsored by Halewood

Edinburgh Gin Electric Spirit Co. Gleann Mor Spirits Co Isle of Harris Distillers McQueen Gin Redcastle Spirits The Shetland Distillery Company

Innovation of the Year sponsored by MacRoberts

Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Crafty Scottish Distillers John Crabbie & Co Loch Ness Spirits Lussa Drinks Company Pickering's Gin The Borders Distillery Wee Hemp Spirits

Exporter of the Year sponsored by Forth Ports

Dornoch Distillery Company Glasgow Distillery Company Isle of Harris Distillers

Best Marketing Campaign sponsored by Orb Group

Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Eden Mill Edinburgh Gin Mackintosh Gin McLean's Gin McQueen Gin

Excellence in Branding sponsored by McLaren Packaging

Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Crafty Scottish Distillers Eden Mill Fidra Gin Glasgow Distillery Company Glaswegin Distilling Co Loch Ness Spirits Moray Distillery Smithies Gin Company The Biggar Gin Company The Garden Shed Drinks Company The Port of Leith Distillery The Torridon

Best Brand Experience sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons

Arbikie Distillery - The A Club Eden Mill – Blendworks Gin School Edinburgh Gin –BAFTA Scotland

Scottish Gin Destination of the Year

Balmenach Distillery (Caorunn) Speyside Crossbill Distilling, Glasgow. Darnley's Gin, Kingsbarns, Fife Eden Mill Blendworks, St. Andrews & Glasgow Isle of Harris Distillery, Harris Orkney Distillery, Orkney Persie Distillery, Perthshire Pixel Spirits, North Ballachulish The Old Curiosity Distillery, Midlothian The Distillery at Dalton (Oro) Lockerbie

Scottish Gin Event of the Year

Gintyre, Beinn an Tuirc Distillers, Explore Campbeltown and South Kintyre Development Trust The Big Big Gin Festival, Edinburgh Corn Exchange Gin Jazz, Inshriach Distilling The Gin Fayre (No. 18 Ltd, Scottish Spirit Consortium) Juniper Gin Festival, Summerhall Drinks Lab The Gin To My Tonic Show (The Gin to My Tonic)

TASTE CATEGORIES

London Dry Gin of the Year sponsored by Franklin & Sons

Artist Edition - Struan, Kinrara Distillery Avva Scottish Gin; Moray Distillery Barra Atlantic Gin; Isle of Barra Distillers Biggar Gin; Biggar Gin Company Caithness Highland Gin; Ice and Fire Distillery Caorunn Gin; International Beverage Caorunn Gin Masters Cut; International Beverage Crabbie's 1837; John Crabbie & Co Crofters Tears; Ice and Fire Distillery Crossbill 100% Scottish Dry Gin; Crossbill Distilling Darnley's Original Gin; Darnley's Gin Edinburgh Gin 1670; Edinburgh Gin Edinburgh Gin Christmas; Edinburgh Gin Edinburgh Gin Classic; Edinburgh Gin Edinburgh Gin Seaside; Edinburgh Gin Fidra Gin; Fidra Gin Firkin Try Me Naked; Gleann Mor Spirits Co Garden Shed Gin; The Garden Shed Drinks Company Glaswegin; Glaswegin Distilling Co Gorse Gin; Lundin Distilling Hills & Harbour Gin; Crafty Scottish Distillers Holyrood Dry Gin; Holyrood Distillery Isle of Harris Gin; Isle of Harris Distillers King's Hill Gin; The Pentland Still Kintyre Botanical Gin; Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Leith Gin; Gleann Mor Spirits Co Lenzie Gin; Lenzie Gin Lind & Lime Gin; The Port of Leith Distillery Loch Ness Gin; Loch Ness Spirits Mackintosh Gin; Mackintosh Gin Makar Original Dry Gin; Glasgow Distillery Company NB Samphire; NB Distillery Original Gin; Eden Mill Oro; The Oro Distilling Co Oro V; The Oro Distilling Co Persie Labrador Gin; Persie Distillery Persie Zesty Citrus Gin; Persie Distillery Pickering's Gin; Pickering's Gin Redcastle Scottish Gin; Redcastle Spirits Reiver's Gin; Selkirk Distillers Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Original Edition; Dunnet Bay Distillers Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Spring Edition; Dunnet Bay Distillers Shetland Reel Gin – Filska; The Shetland Distillery Company Smithies Gin; Smithies Gin Company Uisge Lusach; Uisge Lusach - The Gaelic Gins

Distilled Gin of the Year

Arcturus Gin; The Torridon Devil's Staircase; Pixel Spirits Edinburgh Gin Valentines; Edinburgh Gin Four Marys Zesty Sherbet Gin; Linlithgow Distillery Glasgow Warriors Gin - Wild Myrtle Gin; Eden Mill Isle of Bute Gorse Gin; Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Oyster Gin; Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin Kinrara Highland Dry; Kinrara Distillery Misty Isle Gin; Isle of Skye Distillers Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Autumn Edition; Dunnet Bay Distillers Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Summer Edition; Dunnet Bay Distillers Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Winter Edition; Dunnet Bay Distillers The Poshist; Madderty Micro Tommy's Gin & Lest We Forget; Isle of Skye Distillers

High Strength Gin of the Year (50% ABV and over)

Caorunn Highland Strength; International Beverage Crossbill 200yo Single Specimen Dry Gin; Crossbill Distilling Darnley's Navy Strength Gin; Darnley's Gin Inshriach 57% Navy Strength Speyside Dry Gin; Inshriach Distilling Kirkjuvagr Arkh-Angell; Orkney Distilling LeithAl Gin; Gleann Mor Spirits Co Navy Strength, Avva Scottish Gin; Moray Distillery Pickerings Gin Navy Strength; Pickering's Gin Rock Rose Premium Scottish Gin Navy Strength; Dunnet Bay Distillers Something Clear; McLean's Gin

Gin Liqueur of the Year

Berry Good – Raspberry; Moray Distillery Berry Good – Strawberry; Moray Distillery Blackcurrant, Rhubarb & Ginger; Eden Mill Edinburgh Gin Orange Blossom & Mandarin; Edinburgh Gin Edinburgh Gin Pomegranate & Rose; Edinburgh Gin El:gin Moray Berry; El:gin Findrassie El:gin Moray Mocha; El:gin Findrassie Redcastle Cranberry & Orange Winter Spice Liqueur; Redcastle Spirits Redcastle Passion Fruit & Mango Gin Liqueur; Redcastle Spirits Redcastle Raspberry & Pomegranate Gin Liqueur; Redcastle Spirits Shetland Reel, Rhubarb and Bramble Gin Liqueur; Shetland Distillery The Glesart, McLean’s Gin.

Cask Gin of the Year sponsored by Wolffe

Cask Finish Gin, Avva Scottish Gin; Moray Distillery Firkin Cask Aged - Cote Du Roussilion Red; Gleann Mor Spirits Co Firkin Cask Aged – Islay; Gleann Mor Spirits Co Firkin Gin - Navy Strength Cask Aged; Gleann Mor Spirits Co Firkin Oak Aged American Oak; Gleann Mor Spirits Co GlenWyvis Christmas GoodWill Spiced Gin; GlenWyvis Distillery Kintyre Oak Aged Gin; Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Makar Mulberry Aged Gin; Glasgow Distillery Company Makar Oak Aged Gin; Glasgow Distillery Company Rock Rose Reserve Sauternes Cask Edition; Dunnet Bay Distillers Shetland Reel Gin - Up Helly Aa 2019; The Shetland Distillery Company

Flavoured Gin of the Year

Elgin Heather Honey; El:gin Findrassie Kinrara Distiller's Edition - Oaked Spice Gin; Kinrara Distillery Kinrara Distiller's Edition - Rose & Cardamon Gin; Kinrara Distillery Kinrara Hibiscus Gin; Kinrara Distillery Lemon Verbena; The Old Curiosity Distillery Misty Isle Mulled Christmas Gin; Isle of Skye Distillers Persie Herby & Aromatic Gin; Persie Distillery Persie Spaniel Gin; Persie Distillery

Fruit Flavoured Gin of the Year

Blueberry & Vanilla Gin; Eden Mill Caorunn Scottish Raspberry; International Beverage Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger Gin; Edinburgh Gin Kinrara Distiller's Edition - Lime & Lemongrass Gin; Kinrara Distillery Madderty Micro Orange Marmalade Gin; Madderty Micro Makar Cherry Gin; Glasgow Distillery Company McQueen Pink Gin; McQueen Gin Passion Fruit & Coconut Gin - Duty Free Exclusive; Eden Mill Plum & Pink Grapefruit; Eden Mill Ripple Gin; Lundin Distilling

Old Tom of the Year

Crabbie’s 1891; John Crabbie & Co. Esker Honey Spiced Gin; Esker Spirits Firkin Old Tom; Gleann Mor Spirits Co Holyrood Auld Tam; Holyrood Distillery Makar Old Tom; Glasgow Distillery Rock Rose Old Tom Pink Grapefruit; Dunnet Bay Distillers