The World Gin Awards 2023, Icons of Gin & Hall of Fame inductees by Gin Magazine were announced on 23 February 2023 with Australia’s own Old Young’s distillery awarded Craft Producer of the Year and Brand Innovator of the Year at The Icons of Gin competition.
James Young, Old Young’s Distillery – Photo Supplied
This is the first time an Australian distillery has ever won Craft Producer of the Year, and only the second time an Australian distiller has won Brand Innovator of the year.
Old Young’s was only established in 2016, after James Young took over a mothballed distillery set up in a 36m2 hotbox tin shed and promised to one day make the world’s best gin. It was this determination that quickly saw him win back-to-back Champion Australian Distiller titles at the Australian Distilled Spirit Awards in 2017 and 2018 – a feat that has only been achieved once since. The timing of this global recognition couldn’t be more perfect for James Young, who launched a share offer last week so lovers of Aussie craft spirits could become part-owners in his business. The equity crowdfunding raise will be managed by Birchal, and the money raised will be used to fast track the company’s expansion plans and plan what James describes as a ‘Cathedral of Gin’.
Australia has fared well on the global scene with Archie Rose, Four Pillars and Broken Hill Distillery winning awards. Below is the full list of the winners.
ICONS OF GIN 2023 WINNERS
Brand Innovator of the Year
Old Young’s (AUSTRALIA)
Highly Commended: Buenos Aires Gin & Tonic
Hotel Bar of the Year
Eagle House Hotel and Distillery
Brand Ambassador of the Year
James May, Asian Parsnip
Campaign Innovator of the Year
Destilería Moretti
Craft Producer of the Year
Old Young’s (AUSTRALIA)
Highly Commended: BEG Boutique Distillery, Dyfi Distillery
Design Agency of the Year
Knockout
Distiller of the Year
Archie Rose Distilling Co. (AUSTRALIA)
Distillery Manager of the Year
Jean-Philippe Bouchard, Distiillerie du Fjord
Highly Commended: Pete and Danny Cameron, Dyfi Distillery
Master Distiller of the Year
Cameron Mackenzie, Four Pillars Distillery (AUSTRALIA)
Highly Commended: Dave Withers, Archie Rose Distilling Co (AUSTRALIA)
Sustainable Distillery of the Year
Four Pillars Distillery (AUSTRALIA)
Highly Commended: The Ethical Spirits & Co.
Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year
Paul Hanna, Broken Hill Distillery (AUSTRALIA)
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Four Pillars Distillery (AUSTRALIA)
Highly Commended
Broken Hill Distillery (AUSTRALIA)
Online Retailer of the Year
Master of Malt
Spirits Buyer of the Year
Julie Trewren, Master of Malt
WORLD GIN AWARDS 2023 WINNERS
World’s Best Classic Gin
Hamburg-Zanzibar Suburban Gin, Germany
World’s Best Compound Gin
Kyrö Rye Gin, Finland
World’s Best Contemporary Style Gin
Heritage Magnolia Gin, Poland
World’s Best Flavoured Gin
MAWSIM Gin Tropical Citrus, Cambodia
World’s Best Genever
Juillet Nord Gin, France
World’s Best London Dry Gin
Roots Gin Marlborough Dry Gin, New Zealand
World’s Best Matured Gin
Height of Arrows Heavy – Barrel Aged Pedro Ximenez Cask, Scotland
World’s Best Navy Gin
Junimperium Navy Strength Gin, Estonia
World’s Best Old Tom Gin
Hernö Gin Old Tom Gin, Sweden
World’s Best Signature Botanical
Perfumer’s Gin Varec, Taiwan
World’s Best Sloe Gin
Maennerhobby Sloe Gin, Germany
GIN MAGAZINE HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 2023
Inductee No. 17
Tessa Gerlach, Germany
Inductee No. 16
Alexandre Gabriel, France
Inductee No. 15
Anne Brock, England
Inductee No. 14
Jonathan Adnams, England
You can view last year’s winners here.
