2025 Results
We are delighted to announce the results of the inaugural 2025 New Zealand Gin Competition.
With nearly 100 entries across six categories, the standard this year was exceptionally high. Every distillery and brand that received an award should be immensely proud of their achievement.
Thank you to all the producers who entrusted us with their gins, your support in our first year has been outstanding, and we look forward to returning in 2026.
Our sincere thanks also go to our judging panel, who made these awards possible.
Below are the full results for 2025, listed in alphabetical order. Please note that only medal-winning gins are listed.
OVERALL CHAMPION [BEST NEW ZEALAND GIN]
The Overall Champion, the best gin in New Zealand, is the top ranked gin out of all the Category Champions.
Overall Champion - 2025 Best New Zealand Gin
Matakana Gin Co - Matakana Gin
CATEGORY CHAMPIONS
The category champions represent the top ranked gins in each category.
Champion Classic Gin
Awildian - Awildian Coromandel Dry Gin
Champion Contemporary Gin
Matakana Gin Co - Matakana Gin
Champion Flavoured Gin
Blush Merchants - Blush Rhubarb Gin
Champion Navy Gin
Clarity Distilling Company - Clarity Navy Gin
Champion Gin Liqueur
Awildian - Awildian Rare Damson Gin
Champion Light Gin
Sandymount Distillery - Lovers Light
GOLD MEDAL
Exceptional spirits that approach the highest level of achievement. These products set the benchmark for their categories.
5 Mile Distilling - 5 Mile Original Gin (classic)
5 Mile Distilling - 5 Mile Navy Gin (navy)
Awildian - Awildian Coromandel Spiced Gin (classic)
Awildian - Awildian Coromandel Dry Gin - Blue Edition (contemporary)
Clarity Distilling Company - Clarity Dry Gin (classic)
Clarity Distilling Company - Clarity Sundrop Gin (contemporary)
Concept Brewing - Bloody Good Gin London Dry (classic)
I've Been Pickled - Shepherds Delight (gin liqueur)
Liberty Distilling Company - Soho Dry (classic)
Mt Fyffe Distillery - Shearwater Gin (contemporary)
Prophecy Distillation Company - Finders Gin (classic)
Sandymount Distillery - Lovers Leap (classic)
Sandymount Distillery - Ladybird (navy)
Sandymount Distillery - Blackberry Liqueur (gin liqueur)
The National Distillery Company - Verdigris Dry Gin (classic)
The National Distillery Company - Hemp Gin (contemporary)
The National Distillery Company - NDC London Dry (classic)
SILVER MEDAL
Outstanding spirits that display refinement, finesse, and complexity. These rank among the best examples of their categories.
5 Mile Distilling - 5 Mile Forest Gin (contemporary)
Awildian - Awildian Tangelo Gin (flavoured)
Blush Merchants - Blush Citrus Gin (flavoured)
Clarity Distilling Company - Clarity 2023 Gin (classic)
Clark Lane Distillery - Piko Gin (contemporary)
Clark Lane Distillery - Kawa (contemporary)
Concept Brewing - Bloody Good Gin NZ Botanicals (contemporary)
Deaks - Tasman Dry Gin (classic)
Fenton Street Gin - The Taming of the Shrew (contemporary)
I've Been Pickled - Brutally Honest (navy)
JD Distillery - Mile Marker 66 Ginger Gin (contemporary)
Kaimai Distilling - Eliza's Claim Gold Gin (contemporary)
Kaimai Distilling - Eliza's Claim Dry Gin (contemporary)
Liberty Distilling Company - Manhattan Rose (flavoured)
Liberty Distilling Company - Tribeca Lime (contemporary)
Sandymount Distillery - Woodcutter (flavoured)
The National Distillery Company - Art Deco Gin (contemporary)
The National Distillery Company - NZ Native Gin (contemporary)
The National Distillery Company - - Dive In Yuzu Gin (flavoured)
Tui Street - Tui Street Gin (contemporary)
Unlikely Companions - Sea Salt + Kelp (classic)
Unlikely Companions - Rose + Szechuan (contemporary)
BRONZE MEDAL
Well crafted, commercially sound, and attractively presented; good examples of their categories.
5 Mile Distilling - 5 Mile Berry Gin (flavoured)
Clark Lane Distillery - Piko Pink (contemporary)
Clark Lane Distillery - Manuka Leaf (contemporary)
Concept Brewing - Bloody Good Gin Chilli Infused (flavoured)
Concept Brewing - Blimmin' Fancy Gin - Manuka (contemporary)
Concept Brewing - Blimmin' Fancy Gin - Pink Gin (contemporary)
Concept Brewing - Blimmin' Fancy Gin - Blood Orange (contemporary)
Fenton Street Gin - The Pioneer (contemporary)
Fenton Street Gin - The Beast With Two Backs (contemporary)
I've Been Pickled - Feijoa Infused Gin (flavoured)
I've Been Pickled - Blood Orange Infused Gin (flavoured)
JD Distillery - Mile Marker 66 Classic Dry (classic)
JD Distillery - Mile Marker 66 Pink Gin (flavoured)
Kaimai Distilling - Eliza's Claim Ruby Gin (contemporary)
Kaimai Distilling - Agatha's Tears Dark Gin (contemporary)
Kaimai Distilling - Emily's Garden Gin (contemporary)
Kaimai Distilling - Sirius Find Truffle Gin (contemporary)
Mt Fyffe Distillery - Woolshed Gin (classic)
Pungent Pukeko - Backyard Gin (classic)
Pungent Pukeko - Temptatious Tui Gin (classic)
Sandymount Distillery - Ti Kouka (contemporary)
The National Distillery Company Limited - Damson Plum Gin (flavoured)
Weekender - Weekender Jalapeno Lemon Gin (flavoured)
Weekender - Weekender Peach Gin (flavoured)
That brings the 2025 New Zealand Gin Competition to a close. Thank you once again to everyone involved, from the distillers and brands to our judges.
We’re already looking ahead to next year, when we will return with an even bigger and bolder format.
Until then, take care, and we wish you all the very best with your gins.