The World’s Top Gin, According To The London Spirits Competition

The top medalists from the 2026 London Spirits Competition

Photo, courtesy London Spirits Competition

The London Spirits Competition, now in its ninth year, remains a relatively young event, yet its results are increasingly valuable as a global benchmark. The 2026 awards drew entries from across the world, showcasing exceptional spirits. Gin was the standout category, garnering most of the top awards. Below is a brief background and tasting notes for the top-rated expressions.

This year’s top honors tell a clear story. Classic categories remain dominant, but production choices, base materials, distillation proof, botanical selection and cask strategy are driving a broader stylistic range. Gin, the standout category at the 2026 competition, spanned a range of styles, from traditional London Dry profiles to Nordic botanical expressions and high-proof, dairy-based distillates. Tequila and rum continue to refine their oak use, while flavored vodka and liqueurs show increasing technical precision rather than simple sweetness.

Spirit Of The YearNo.3 Gin (Holland), 46% ABV 750ml—Double Gold Medal, 98/100 Points

Distilled in Holland for Berry Bros. & Rudd, No.3 is built as a textbook London Dry but executed with unusual precision. Crafted from a wheat base, it uses standard botanicals of juniper, coriander, cardamom, angelica root, grapefruit peel, and orange peel. The botanicals are macerated for extended periods before distillation to fine-tune extraction.

The nose is aromatic, with classic London Dry aromas of juniper, bright citrus peel, and a cool spice edge. The palate is crisp, dry, and tightly structured, with juniper at the core, framed by citrus and peppery spice. The texture is lean and smooth. The finish is long, dry, and London Dry-focused, with lingering citrus zest and rooty/earthy notes.

Best Spirit By Quality: Bareksten Navy Strength Gin (Norway)57.5% ABV, 500ml—Double Gold Medal, 97/100 Points

Bareksten reflects a distinctly Scandinavian approach to gin, combining high proof with wild, regionally inspired botanicals. The base alcohol is derived from potatoes, which contributes to the gin’s pronounced weight and a viscous, oily texture. The botanicals include juniper, herbs, berries, and unspecified Nordic wild botanicals.

The nose shows concentrated juniper, dark berries, citrus oil, and forest herbs. The palate is full-bodied and assertive, with layered spice, fruit, and herbal notes. The texture is dense and creamy for a navy-strength gin, with a pronounced mouthfeel. The finish is long, warming, and smooth, with lingering spice and fruit notes.

Best Spirit By Package: CandeGIN (Italy)40% ABV, 500ml—Gold Medal, 94/100 Points

CandeGIN departs from the classical Mediterranean structure by integrating orchard fruit and Asian citrus elements. The eclectic botanical blend includes juniper, coriander, apple, prickly pear, yuzu, Sichuan pepper, iris, and licorice.

The gin is highly aromatic on the nose, balancing juniper and coriander with apple, prickly pear, and yuzu. On the palate, it’s smooth and fruit-forward, highlighting pronounced juniper and fruit notes with subtle spice from Sichuan pepper. The finish is long and lightly spicy, with lingering floral and licorice notes.

A fresh gin and tonic.

GettyGin Of The Year: Clarity Navy Gin (New Zealand)57.5% ABV, 700ml—Double Gold Medal, 98/100 Points

Clarity Gin’s use of a whey base is unusual and contributes to a notably smooth texture at high proof. The botanical mix includes juniper, lemon peel, cardamom, peppercorn, cassia, clove, nutmeg, smoked coriander, Manuka, and orris. Smoked coriander adds an intriguing light smoky note to the gin.

The gin is bright and aromatic on the nose, with notes of juniper, citrus, and spice. It’s bold and concentrated on the palate, with a silky texture and flavors of juniper, lemon, warm spice, and a hint of smoke. The finish is long, clean, and warming, with lingering notes of pepper and citrus.

Vodka Of The Year: Żubrówka Vanilla Flavored Vodka (Poland)37.5% ABV, 700ml—Double Gold Medal 98/100 Points

Żubrówka’s vanilla expression emphasizes natural infusion with Madagascar vanilla pods, giving the grain-based vodka a botanical character rather than a candied or confectionery flavor.

The nose offers aromas of vanilla cream, light caramel, and a clean alcoholic base. On the palate, it’s smooth and sweet, with a velvety texture that highlights flavors of vanilla custard, subtle spices, and faint almond notes. The finish is medium-long and clean, with lingering vanilla and spice notes.

Rum Of The Year: Kakira Spirits Dark Rum (Uganda)40% ABV, 750ml—Double Gold Medal 96/100 Points

Kakira is a molasses-based rum made from estate-grown sugarcane near Lake Victoria. It combines pot distillation with a multi-cask, solera-inspired aging process that uses both ex-bourbon and Sherry casks. The rum is aged for an average of five years.

The nose offers aromas of molasses, caramel, dried fruit, and oak spice. On the palate, it’s smooth and slightly oily, with pronounced mouth weight, revealing flavors of toffee, golden syrup, raisins, and wood spices. The finish is long and warming, with lingering caramel and spice notes.

Liqueur Of The Year: Martin Albus Višnje Liqueur, (Croatia)20% ABV, 700ml—Double Gold Medal, 97/100 Points

This is a straightforward cherry-based fruit liqueur, executed with precision and emphasizing natural flavor and balance.

The nose is intensely cherry-driven, with a hint of almond. The palate is sweet yet tangy, offering pronounced, concentrated black cherry flavors with a kirsch-like character and a slight cherry pit/almond-tinged bitterness. The finish is long and fruit-driven, with lingering cherry and almond notes.

Tequila Of The Year: Herradura Reposado Tequila (Mexico)40% ABV, 750ml—Double Gold Medal, 96/100 Points

Herradura’s Reposado remains a benchmark in Tequila. Aged for 11 months, longer than the average Reposado, it’s made using traditional methods, including clay ovens and wild-yeast fermentation.

The nose offers aromas of cooked agave, vanilla, butter, and spice. The palate is smooth and creamy, with flavors of cooked agave sweetness, caramel, vanilla, and pepper. The finish is long, smooth, and gently spicy, with lingering notes of seasoned oak and agave.

Cognac Of The Year: Courvoisier VS (France)40% ABV, 750ml—Gold Medal, 95/100 Points

Courvoisier VS reflects a fruit-forward house style, crafted from a blend of eaux-de-vie aged 3–7 years.

The Cognac is highly aromatic on the nose, with notes of apple, pear, flowers, and seasoned oak. The palate is smooth and velvety, medium-bodied, with flavors of orchard fruit, vanilla, and a hint of spice. The finish is long, elegant, and lightly oaked, with lingering fruit and floral notes.

Taken together, these Best of Category winners show a spirits landscape defined less by origin than by process and intent. Base material matters. Wheat, potato, whey, cane, or agave all leave distinct structural signatures on their spirits. So do production decisions, from triple distillation and botanical selection to cask finishing and filtration.

The through line is precision. Even in flavored or high-proof expressions, from gin to vodka to Tequila, the best spirits are not more aggressive; they are more focused and controlled, delivering flavor and complexity. That’s what separates this year’s top performers. They are not merely well-made examples of their categories. They are deliberate statements about how those categories can evolve without losing their core identity.

The World’s Top Gin, According To The London Spirits Competition

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