After 4 years of consecutive success, the London Spirits Competition, in its 5th year is set to continue its aim of setting a true benchmark for buyers and consumers looking to buy spirits of the best quality, price, and packaging.

At the third annual London Spirits Competition, which took place in London recently, spirits and brands from 86 different countries battled it out for medals. More than 1200+ spirits were tasted by top bartenders and spirits buyers. The most hotly contested categories were: gin (471 entries), whisky (132), liqueurs (131) and rum (123). Seven countries stood in terms of the number of products entered and medals won with leading nations being: The UK; Australia; United States; Italy; France; Canada; and Germany. 

Spirits were judged on the basis of three primary criteria – quality, value, and packaging – and then scored on a 100-point scale. Spirits that scored 90+ points were awarded Gold medals, while spirits that scored 76 to 89 points were awarded Silver medals. The primary reason for using three criteria rather than just one was to focus on the overall drinkability of each spirit. As a result, the judging panel ranked spirits not just by how they taste, but also by their overall presentation and appearance in the bottle. In addition, judges assessed spirits on their relative value in relation to their peers, as determined by retail pricing.

Here are the top winners of the 2021 London Spirits Competition.

Winners by Type of Spirits

Spirit Of The Year - Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka by Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co. Ltd

Vodka Of The Year - Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka by Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co. Ltd

Rum Of The Year - Rum Nation by Rum Nation International

Tequila Of The Year - IZO Tequila Extra Anejo Cristalino by Belzmart Group, Llc Dba Izo Mezcal   

Gin Of The Year - Botanic Australis Navy Strength Gin by Mt. Uncle Distillery

Whisky Of The Year - Dingle Distillery Fourth Single Pot Still Release by The Dingle Distillery

Brandy Of The Year - St-Rémy Signature by St-Rémy

Liqueur Of The Year - Muyu Vetiver Gris by De Kuyper Royal Distillers

Cognac Of The Year - A. de Fussigny Grande Champagne VSOP by A De Fussigny Sas

Distillery Of The Year - De Kuyper Royal Distillers from Netherlands.

These spirits won the Best spirits by country award:

United Kingdom: Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka, Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co Ltd.

Netherlands: Muyu Vetiver Gris, De Kuyper Royal Distillers

Australia: Botanic Australis Navy Strength Gin, Mt Uncle Distillery

Italy: Rum Nation, Rum Nation International

Ireland: Dingle Distillery Fourth Single Pot Still Release, The Dingle Distillery

France: Eau De Vie De Poire Williams Vrp, Distillerie Massenez

Japan: Enso Japanese Blended Whisky, Enso Whisky

United States: Legent Bourbon, Beam Suntory

Canada: Georgian Bay Vodka, Georgian Bay Spirit Co

Germany: Mahiki White Coconut, MBG International Premium Brands GmbH

Mexico: IZO Tequila Extra Anejo Cristalino, Belzmart Group, Llc Dba Izo Mezcal

By Judging Category

Best Spirit By Quality – Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka, Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co Ltd

Best Spirit By Value – Eau De Vie De Poire Williams, Distillerie Massenez

Best Spirit By Package – Muyu Vetiver Gris, De Kuyper Royal Distillers.

Spirits set up by Alex Palumbo, a judge at London Spirits Competition, Source: Instagram

Recognising, Rewarding and Promoting

The 2022 London Spirits Competition is an international spirits competition organized by Beverage Trade Network and is set to happen on March 21, 2022, in London. The competition looks to recognise, reward and help promote spirits brands that have successfully been created to identify with and target a specific spirit drinker. For any spirits brand to earn its place on a retailer’s shelf or a restaurant’s spirits list -  and then vitally stay there - they need to be marketable and consumer-driven and not just produced in the general hope it can find enough people willing to sell and buy it.

Quality, Value, Package and Design

The London Spirits Competition awards medals according to quality, value for money, packaging and design. All 3 aspects are key to winning over the consumer whether on the shelf or at the dining table. Whilst looking great has always been a part of shop retail, it is now clear that restaurants require excellent packaging and design.

Bartenders want guests to be impressed with their choice or suggestion of spirits, and so it follows naturally that when they bring the bottle to the table that it represents every ounce of the quality that they have recommended.

London Spirits Competition's 2021 Judges

The London Spirits Competition is judged by professionals - Master Bartender, Mixologists, Head of bars, buyers from leading retail organisations and some of the most respected London bartenders so that brands can be certain of the medal quality awarded.

Benefits and reasons on why you should enter your spirits in the London Spirits Competition.

1. Raise your brands’ profile, prestige, and credibility with importers, distributors, press, retailers, and consumers

2. Instil confidence in the trade buyer about the marketability of your spirits as LSC rates spirits by their value, package, and quality.

3. Winners to be showcased at LSC participating events at no extra fees.

4. Winners to get access to stickers and all winning materials at no extra fees.

5. Increase product sales

6. Boost awareness of your brand in the media via extensive editorial and press coverage via LSC media partners.

7. Use the LSC logo on packaging and as part of your own promotional plan.

8. Social media promotion of winners ALL YEAR ROUND

9. Entrants to get customized shelf-talkers and tasting notes.

Key Dates:

Super Early Bird Ends - August 31, 2021

Registration Ends - Feb 28, 2022

Warehouse Closes: March 4, 2022

Judging Date: March 22, 2022

Winners Announced: April 5, 2022

Fee Schedule:

£95 Super Early Bird - May 1 to August 31, 2021

Here are the steps to enter your spirits in the London Spirits Competition.