About the awards
World Gin Awards 2025
The World Gin Awards aims to showcase the best people, products, and places in the global gin industry.
While judging for the World Gin Awards is currently underway, the winner results for the World Drinks Awards France 2025 can be viewed
here.
Dates for your diary:- Entry Deadline (Taste & Design) – 21 October 2024
- Shipping Deadline – 4 November 2024
- Icons of Gin Entry Deadline – 16 January 2025
- Final tastings & winner announcement: 15 April 2025
- Winners Announced: Global Announcement – 4 June 2025
What are the World Gin Awards?
The World Gin Awards are the global awards selecting the very best internationally recognised gin styles. Our annual tasting selects, awards and promotes the best gins to consumers and the trade throughout the world. Gins must be generally available and for sale, which can be on and off trade, local or international.
Whether you're a seasoned distiller or just starting out, participating in the World Gin Awards is an exciting way to gain exposure for your brand and connect with other gin
lovers, regionally and from across the globe. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to get noticed in the ever-expanding world of gin!
Who should enter the World Gin Awards?
The World Gin Awards are for any passionate blenders, importers, wholesalers, retailers or distilleries, who believe they have an exceptional product that the world needs to taste.
Why enter the World Gin Awards?
1. Demonstrate your product's quality with individual assessments from our esteemed global judging panel, each expertly chosen for their proficiency in your specific drinks category. Taste and quality are the sole criteria that hold significance in our blind evaluation process.
2. Claim victory and empower consumers in their purchasing journey. Amidst the overwhelming array of products on shelves, being an award winner sets you apart, helping consumers to make informed choices.
3. Unlock exclusive benefits at no cost – receive complimentary logos and certificates to showcase your triumph and boost your brand image. All winning assets remain accessible on your online profile. Explore a diverse array of tailor-made promotional materials, curated specifically for your win.
4. Garner global recognition as every winner earns a dedicated profile and a direct link to their website on www.worlddrinksawards.com, a platform frequented by thousands monthly
5. Amplify your brand's visibility with coverage of award winners across our influential social media channels, ensuring your success reaches a vast global audience.
How to enter the World Gin Awards
1. Head on over to www.worlddrinksawards.com and log in to your account, or register if this is your first time entering.
2. Tell us about you, your brand and the award-worthy product you want to submit.
3. Go to the checkout and pay the entrance fee to finish your registration.
4. Ship your product to us and we’ll take it from there!
Icons of Gin
Welcome to the Icons of GinWe are delighted to say that the Icons of Gin Awards are now open for entries and we are introducing our new online entry system. You can simply make your applications through your customer profile.
The Icons of Gin Awards are a celebration of the years of hard work that go into every bottle. From the distillers themselves and brand ambassadors, to visitor centre managers, bars, bar tenders and the industry’s communicators – a great deal of craftsmanship, skill and knowledge are imparted at each stage of the process.
This is our way of saying thank you to the individuals and producers for their dedication to each innovative release, visitor experience or expert retail service, delivered in a tireless fashion.
Taste categories
Classic Gin should have a clean base spirit with a neutral flavour that allows the distilled flavours of the botanicals to come through. The gin is juniper-forward and other common botanicals include angelica root, coriander seed, orris root, and citrus peel. While we suggest the minimum ABV should be at least 35%, lesser ABVs are allowed. If country specific-legal bottling limits, either lower or higher, are in place, those would supersede this recommendation. E.g., if bottling in the UK, the minimum ABV has to be 37.5%.
A new category for gins that change colour when tonic water is added; they can be classic or contemporary in terms of flavour profile. Samples will be tasted as normal but the visual colour changing ability will also be tested, using tonic water.
A gin where the principal gin botanical flavours, including juniper, are imparted through maceration and not through distillation. While we suggest the minimum ABV should be at least 35%, lesser ABVs are allowed. If country specific-legal bottling limits, either lower or higher, are in place, those would supersede this recommendation. E.g., if bottling in the UK, the minimum ABV has to be 37.5%.
Gins with flavour profiles where juniper is still discernible, but other flavours such as citrus, spice, and floral notes are more prominent than in a Classic Gin. Contemporary Gin is a catch-all term for gins described as “New-Wave”, "New Western”, “New American Dry”, etc. While we suggest the minimum ABV should be at least 35%, lesser ABVs are allowed. If country specific-legal bottling limits, either lower or higher, are in place, those would supersede this recommendation. E.g., if bottling in the UK, the minimum ABV has to be 37.5%.
Gin that has been flavoured with fruit or another botanicals, typically via infusion or maceration, and may be sweetened. This category includes flavoured versions of gins from other categories, e.g. Navy or Old Tom. While we suggest the minimum ABV should be at least 35%, lesser ABVs are allowed. If country specific-legal bottling limits, either lower or higher, are in place, those would supersede this recommendation.
Subcategories of Genever include: Jonge, Ould and Korenwijn. It must be produced according to EU regulation 110/2008.
Juniper-forward, traditional-style gins made using the London Gin production technique: all flavours must be imparted via distillation, with only water and neutral spirit to be added after distillation. While we suggest the minimum ABV should be at least 35%, lesser ABVs are allowed. If country specific-legal bottling limits, either lower or higher, are in place, those would supersede this recommendation. E.g. if bottling in the UK, the minimum ABV has to be 37.5%.
Gin that has been matured in or with wood, including the use of: barrels, chips, or staves. While we suggest the minimum ABV should be at least 35%, lesser ABVs are allowed. If country specific-legal bottling limits, either lower or higher, are in place, those would supersede this recommendation. E.g., if bottling in the UK, the minimum ABV has to be 37.5%.
Any gin bottled with a minimum ABV of 57%. Can include overproof
Gin produced to replicate the historical style of Old Tom, whether that be botanically intense, sugar-sweetened, or botanically sweetened. While we suggest the minimum ABV should be at least 35%, lesser ABVs are allowed. If country specific-legal bottling limits, either lower or higher, are in place, those would supersede this recommendation. E.g., if bottling in the UK, the minimum ABV has to be 37.5%.
Distilled gins that focus on a particular botanical or flavour and prominently state this on their label. Flavoured exclusively through distillation, these spirits still have juniper as a key focus, but have an additional focus on the signature component. While we suggest the minimum ABV should be at least 35%, lesser ABVs are allowed. If country specific-legal bottling limits, either lower or higher, are in place, those would supersede this recommendation. E.g., if bottling in the UK, the minimum ABV has to be 37.5%.
A gin-based liqueur flavoured with blackthorn/sloe berries aka Prunus Spinosa.
Design categories
This design category includes only singular bottles without outer packaging. It does include any decorative items such as neck tags or collars. The overall design, including closure, of the glass or PET bottle: shape, colour, functionality and any embossing, decorative finishes, coatings, or direct printed elements as well as visual appeal will be assessed in this category.
This category is designed to cater for all on shelf gift packs. These can be either gift packs containing individual bottles with packaging and accessories (such as glassware) or multi-product sets, including miniatures.
This includes all aspects of on-bottle brand/product communication, including the application of any direct printing onto bottle, capsule or closure, as well as paper and film labels and sleeves. This will be judged on the overall design and quality of materials, print, decoration and application.
This category applies to designs where the number produced was limited, such as for a special production, occasion or season. This can include individual bottles as well as bottles with outer packaging. This does not include gift packs, travel retail exclusives or special edition designs, which should be entered separately.
Packaging for a new product launched after February 1, 2023. This must be a new product, not a re-design of an existing product. Redesigns, please see the redesign/relaunch category.
This is a packaging design that carries through and unites a range or ‘family’ of different products from one producer or brand. To enter this category a minimum of three expressions need to be provided in order to assess the range design.
This category refers to a new or refreshed packaging design created for an existing product and introduced to the market after February 1, 2023. A picture or sample of the previous packaging must be supplied along with a description of what changes have been made and why
This applies to the secondary, outer, presentation packaging, such as cartons, boxes, cases, plinths, chests etc. The presentation will be judged on the overall effect with the bottle in place. This does not include gift packs or speciality designs, which should be entered separately.
This category is for speciality designs or ‘one off’ productions which have been exclusively designed for a very special occasion, are very limited and mostly in a higher price range. Must contain outer packaging. Sale is extremely selected and not generally available.
Products created specifically and only for sale in the duty-free / travel retail market. This can either individual bottles or products with outer packaging.
The judging process
Taste
Round One Each gin is tasted in its relevant style to identify and select the style winner in each country.
Round Two and ThreeAll Country style winners are tasted against each other to identify the Best in each style worldwide. The winners in each style then compete for the title World’s Best in one of the 12 categories.
Design
All design judging is conducted by a panel of leading international design.
Winner Presentation
The Country winners as well as all medal winners will be presented in person.
Shipping
When shipping your product, please keep in mind the following:
- Ensure all products are packaged securely.
- Print the packing slip from your online profile for each product and attach this to your package(s).
- World Gin Awards accepts bottles.
- Ensure all customs and duties fees are cleared when booking in the shipment yourself. Should the World Gin Awards be required to pay any charges, you will be invoiced for the amount plus an administration fee.
- The World Drinks Awards has collection depots in Italy and France. You will be provided with all details once your shipment is booked, but you will need to ensure you deliver your entries to the local depot yourself. The transport costs for which are not part of the shipping fee.
Quantities Required
For Taste entries, we require for each entry:
- 3 x 500ml (minimum) Bottles
For Design entries, we require for each entry:
If you have entered both Taste and Design, please provide the number of bottles specified under the 'Taste' entries quantities section.
How to Ship
We are delighted to introduce our shipping system, allowing you to ship your entries straight through our own booking system in conjunction with our shipping partner. For a set shipping fee, that covers customs and duties costs, we get your shipment booked in, picked up and on its way! Pallet shipping is also available. Download the shipping guide here.
When you are shipping your entries yourself, please ensure that all customs, clearance and any associated costs have been paid. If these are not paid, World Gin Awards can either not accept the entries or will have to invoice any costs occurred, including an administration fee. All duty invoices will come directly from our accounts team.
We do accept in-person deliveries. Please contact our awards team at info@worldginawards.com to ensure someone is on site to receive your package(s).Rates
Entry fees
| Note: price is for each entry |
|---|
| | 1 entry | 2 entries | 3 entries | 4+ entries |
|---|
| Sterling |
| Taste & Design | £315 + VAT | £295 + VAT | £285 + VAT | £275 + VAT |
| Design only | £209 + VAT | £199 + VAT | £189 + VAT | £179 + VAT |
| Taste only | £209 + VAT | £199 + VAT | £189 + VAT | £179 + VAT |
| Euro |
| Taste & Design | €375 | €365 | €355 | €345 |
| Design only | €245 | €240 | €235 | €230 |
| Taste only | €245 | €240 | €235 | €230 |
| USD |
| Taste & Design | $449 | $429 | $419 | $409 |
| Design only | $299 | $289 | $279 | $269 |
| Taste only | $299 | $289 | $279 | $269 |
| Canadian Dollar |
| Taste & Design | $535 | $520 | $505 | $490 |
| Design only | $365 | $355 | $345 | $335 |
| Taste only | $365 | $355 | $345 | $335 |
Terms & conditions
- Products must be sent by prepaid post and be received by the Shipping Date listed.
- Entries are only accepted on a completed online entry form with the appropriate entry fee.
- If an entry is withdrawn by the Due Date (or disqualified), the entry fee will be returned subject to an administration charge of 50% of the entry fee. Products will be made available for collection at the entrant’s expense or retained by the Organiser if not collected within eight weeks of the due date. Due Date is the entry deadline.
- If an entry is withdrawn after the Due Date, no refunds will be given. This includes entries for which product has not been received.
- Payment in full is required before judging commences.
- Substitutions of entries is possible, but needs to be communicated to the World Gin Awards prior to the Due Date.
- If you are shipping your entries yourself, please ensure that all customs, clearance and any associated costs have been paid in advance. If these costs are not paid, the World Gin Awards will invoice any costs occurred, including an administration fee. If these costs remain unpaid, the World Gin Awards are unable to accept the entries.
- The judges’ decision on all matters is final.
- The Organisers may, at their discretion, refuse to accept an entry.
- The Organisers may alter the closing date for the awards, place an entry in the most appropriate style, rule that an entry may not compete or is ineligible to compete, or alter the date, time or place on or at which the awards are scheduled to take place.
- The Chair of Judges has the power to disqualify any entry not deemed as meeting the entry criteria.
- These rules are governed by the laws of the UK.
- Please note, bottles are unable to be returned. Our policy on unreturned bottles is as follows:
- Opened bottles may be poured at trade and consumer events to promote the individual brand, or included in a charity bottling, the proceeds of which are distributed to charity.
- Closed bottles may be distributed to individual charities on a case by basis, or presented for auction, all proceeds of which are distributed to charity.