The best of the best of New Zealand Spirits have been awarded trophies at the NZ Spirits Awards gala dinner in Auckland over the weekend.
“For the 20 trophy winners it has been quite a journey,” says Spirits New Zealand Chief Executive, Robert Brewer.
451 entries were blind-tasted and judged in Wellington in late July. The gold and double-gold medal winners in each category were then re-tasted and judged to find the best of the best.
“This was made all the more challenging this year because there were more gold and double gold medals than ever before – and more for NZ distilled product than has ever been seen,” says Brewer.
Out of the 79 gold and double golds awarded, 48 went to New Zealand distilled product, an increase of about 19% on the previous year.
“And when you consider that one entire category is for Scotch and Irish Traditional whiskey then the result is even more pronounced,” he says.
The Awards are hosted by industry bodies Spirits New Zealand and Distilled Spirits Aotearoa and sponsored by Fever-Tree.
To celebrate the trophy winners in each category Fever-Tree have teamed up with The Churchill in Auckland from 14 to 28 September to highlight and show each winner.
| Trophy | Winner |
| Best Overall in Category – Whisky North American | Jack Daniels No.7 Bonded |
| Best Overall in Category – Whisky Traditional | Jameson Single Pot Still |
| Best Overall in Category – Whisky World | Starward Single Barrel Cognac Cask Finish |
| Best New Zealand in Category – Whisky World | Thomson Manuka Smoke Single Malt |
| Best Overal in Category – Gin London Dry | Sandymount Distillery Lovers Leap Dry Gin |
| Best Overall in Category – Gin Contemporary/Navy Strength | Strange Nature Gin |
| Best Overall in Category – Gin Flavoured | Roots Rosso Pinot Noir Gin |
| Best Overall in Category – Gin Aged | Awildian Coromandel Mānuka Honey Matured Gin |
| Best Overall in Category – Rum | Last Light Rum Cask Strength Solera Aged Rum |
| Best Overall in Category – White Rum | 1919 Distilling Cane Overproof |
| Best Overall in Category – Rum Spiced/Botanical | Helmsman Spiced Rum |
| Best Overall in Category – Liqueurs | Curiosity Gin Pinot Barrel Sloe |
| Best Overall in Category – Botanical & Other Spirits | Petrus Boonekamp Blood Bitter |
| Best New Zealand in Category – Botanical & Other Spirits | Matahui Distillery Fennel Liqueur |
| Best Overall in Category – Agave Spirits | Del Maguey Chichicapa |
| Best Overall in Category – Vodka Varietal | 42 Below Vodka |
| Best Overall in Category – Vodka Flavoured/Aged | National Distillery Company Aquifer Plateau Yuzu Vodka |
| Best Overall in Category – Vermouth | Villa M Rosso Vermouth |
| Best New Zealand in Category – Vermouth | Scapegrace Red Vermouth |
| Best Overall in Category – Brandy | Elsewhen Applejack |
| New Zealand Packaging Design Award | Bluff Gin |
| Cue Marketing New Zealand Emerging Product Award | Last Light Solera Aged Rum |
| Liquorland New Zealand Innovation Award | Thomson Manuka Smoke Single Malt |
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