Icons of Gin 2018 – Winners Revealed

The winners have been revealed in Gin Magazine‘s inaugural Icons of Gin awards 2018. Awards were presented at the Gin Magazine Awards presentation held in London at the Honourable Artillery Company on Thursday 15 February 2018. The Icons of Gin awards were presented alongside the prestigious World Gin Awards and the magazine’s Hall of Fame.

Editor of Gin Magazine and Icons of Gin chair Sam Coyne said, “We have been overwhelmed with the interest and excitement generated by the awards. Our aim was to recognise the best people, products and places within the gin industry, as nominated by the people within it. Each of our winners, those highly commended and shortlisted can be duly proud of their achievement.”

The Icons of Gin Awards receive nominations from within the industry, before Gin Magazine‘s editorial panel whittle down a shortlist. Voting is then opened to the industry, before the editorial panel finalise the results.

For this year’s awards, a number of categories were split between UK finalists and World finalists, with a winner and highly commended selected for each, before the two winners went head-to-head.

Producer of the year
Hernö

UK Winner
Hayman Distillers
World Highly Commended
Bacardi Limited
UK Highly Commended
Quintessential Brands

Brand Innovator of the year
sponsored by Multi Packaging Solutions
Edinburgh Gin

World Winner
Four Pillars
UK Highly Commended
Chase Distillery
World Highly Commended
Kyrö Distillery

Craft Producer of the year
Amázzoni Distillery

UK Winner
The Cotswolds Distillery
World Highly Commended
The Kyoto Distillery
UK Highly Commended
Adnams Distillery

 

Distillery Attraction of the year
Bombay Sapphire – Laverstoke Mill

World Winner
Bluecoat Gin
UK Highly Commended
The Cotswolds Distillery
World Highly Commended
Amázzoni Gin

 

Distiller of the year
Lesley Gracie – Hendrick’s

World Winner
Paul Hletko – FEW Spirits
UK Highly Commended
Simon Buley – Caorunn
World Highly Commended
Jon Hillgren – Hernö

Gin Brand Ambassador of the year
Dan Crowther – Ableforth’s

World Winner
Josh Linfitt – Scapegrace
UK Highly Commended
Alix Walker – Thomas Dakin
World Highly Commended
George Krastev – Kyrö Distillery

Genever Brand Ambassador of the year
Michael Mann – Lucas Bols
Highly Commended
Phillip Duff – Old Duff Genever

Distillery Attraction Manager of the year
Emma Heron-Smith

World Winner
Tor Petter Christensen – Bivrost Aurora Spirits
World Highly Commended
Monika Spalding – Wildbrumby Distillery

Bar of the year
40 St Paul’s
Highly Commended
beGin

Bar Group of the year
London Cocktail Club
Highly Commended
Gin 71

Hotel Bar of the year
GinTonica – The Distillery
Highly Commended
Dukes Hotel

Single Outlet Retailer of the year
Hedonism
Highly Commended
Keelham Farm Shop

Multiple Outlets Retailer of the year
Marks & Spencer
Highly Commended
Harvey Nichols

Online Retailer of the year
Master of Malt
Highly Commended
Gin Kiosk

Travel Retailer of the year
Heinemann
Highly Commended
Dufry

Supermarket of the year
Waitrose
Highly Commended
Sainsbury’s

Gin Magazine Hall of Fame – Inductee No.1
Charles Maxwell – Thames Distillers