The World Gin Awards 2026, held at the Savoy Hotel in London last Thursday, delivered its most internationally diverse set of winners in the competition's history. Judges evaluated over nine hundred entries from forty-three countries, with gold medals awarded across twelve categories and the coveted World's Best Gin title going to a name that will surprise few in the industry.
World's Best Gin
The supreme champion title went to Tarquin's Cornish Dry Gin, produced at the Southwestern Distillery in Wadebridge, Cornwall. Head distiller and founder Tarquin Leadbetter accepted the award to a standing ovation, having previously won category golds but never the overall title. "We've been making gin the same way since 2012," he said in his acceptance speech. "Flame-fired copper pot still, hand-cut botanicals, small batches. It's gratifying to see that approach recognised."
Category Winners
The London Dry category was won by Sipsmith London Dry Gin, marking the third time the Chiswick distillery has taken this particular award. In the Contemporary category, Ki No Bi from Kyoto Distillery claimed gold — the first Japanese gin to win a major international category award since the competition began.
Other notable results include Four Pillars Rare Dry from Australia taking the Navy Strength category (their Gunpowder Proof expression); Hernö Old Tom from Sweden winning the Old Tom category for the second consecutive year; and Monkey 47 from Germany's Black Forest taking the Compound/Bathtub category with their Experimentum Series No. 14.
The Flavoured Gin category, one of the competition's most contested, went to Whitley Neill Blood Orange — a result that will please fans of the accessible, fruit-forward style that has driven much of the market's growth in recent years. The Barrel-Aged category was won by Few Spirits Barrel Gin from Evanston, Illinois, while the Sloe Gin gold went to Sipsmith's expression.
Design and Innovation
The World Gin Awards also recognises excellence in bottle design and marketing innovation. The Design Gold went to Hendrick's Neptunia for its ocean-inspired packaging, while the Innovation award was claimed by a new Australian distillery, Patient Wolf, for their climate-adaptive botanical programme that adjusts recipes based on seasonal availability.
Trends and Takeaways
Several patterns emerged from this year's results. The continued strength of Asian producers is notable — alongside Ki No Bi's category win, gold medals went to gins from Japan, India, and the Philippines. The Australian gin sector also performed strongly, with five golds across categories.
Perhaps the most significant trend, however, is the growing recognition of terroir in gin — the idea that where a gin is made, and the local botanicals available, matters as much as technique. Several winners specifically highlighted their use of foraged, local, or estate-grown botanicals in their submissions.
"Ten years ago, this competition was dominated by three or four countries," said awards chairman David T. Smith. "Today, genuinely world-class gin is being produced on every continent. The breadth and quality of entries this year was exceptional."
The full results, including silver and bronze medallists, are available on the World Gin Awards website. The 2027 competition opens for entries in November.
