The winners of the inaugural New Zealand Spirits Awards have been announced, with Kiwi distilleries taking home 14 Gold Medals and seven trophies.
Seventeen local and overseas judges – including The Shout’s Tash McGill – blind-tasted more than 250 spirits over two days in March and the overall winners were revealed at a gala dinner at Wellington’s Embassy Theatre on May 10.
“The NZ Spirits Awards have exceeded our expectations,” says Spirits New Zealand Chief Executive, Robert Brewer. “We would have been very happy to get 100 entries, but 254 entries is truly amazing in its inaugural year. It is also a really solid indication of the growing strength of the New Zealand spirits industry, since almost half of these entries were New Zealand distilleries and products,” he says.
Local Gold Medalists include Juno, Scapegrace, Thomson and Liquid Alchemy. For a full list of medal winners, visit www.spiritsawardsnz.nz.
The trophy winners
Best New Zealand in Category – Botanical & Other Spirits
Elemental Grapefruit & Hops Bitters
Best Overall in Category – Botanical & Other Spirits
Dolin Vermouth Rogue
Best Overall in Category – Brandies
Denzien Te Aro Dry
New Zealand in Category – Gin
Remy Martin XO
Best Overall in Category – Gin
Denzien Te Aro Dry
Best New Zealand in Category – Liqueurs
Lewis Road Creamery Chocolate Cream Liqueur
Best Overall in Category – Liqueurs
Lewis Road Creamery Chocolate Cream Liqueur
Best Overall in Category – Rum
Pusser’s Rum
Best New Zealand in Category – Vodka
The White Sheep Co. Sheep Milk Vodka
Best Overall in Category – Vodka
Grey Goose
Best New Zealand in Category – Whiskey
Thomson Whisky Two Tone
Best Overall in Category – Whiskey
Talisker 10 YO
New Zealand Innovation Award
TeKiwi 100% Blue Agave Spirit
