Gin remains one of the great spirit success stories of the past decade. Once burdened with an old-fashioned image, the category has been thoroughly rejuvenated and reimagined, becoming a staple on back bars across the world.
Originating in the Netherlands in the early 16th century, where it was known as jenever, gin soon captured the attention of the UK. The ‘Gin Craze’ swept through Britain following the ascension of William of Orange to the English throne, with consumption soaring until the introduction of the Gin Act in 1751 brought the excesses under control. In the centuries that followed, the spirit evolved into a more refined style of drink, giving rise to enduring household names such as Beefeater, Tanqueray and Gordon’s.
Today, however, exceptional gin is produced far beyond its historic heartlands. Distilleries around the world are embracing the category, experimenting with an ever-expanding range of botanicals to craft distinctive flavour profiles. Of course, juniper remains the defining note in almost all examples of the spirit, but it is now joined by an array of ingredients that can steer the liquid towards citrus brightness, warming spice, floral delicacy or something more unconventional.
This year’s IWSC saw a strong showing from international gin, with six spirits awarded 98 points and a Gold Outstanding medal. Among them was Mikuni Distillery’s Osaka Gin, noted for its ‘delightful burst of lemon verbena and lemon-lime on the nose’. Another top-scoring entry was Meridor Gin from France’s Distillerie Combier, praised by judges for its light, delicate character alongside a rich, bold palate.
Australia also made a strong impression, with four gins claiming places among the top scorers. Navy Gin, Sea Spray Gin, Three Cuts Distiller’s Release Gin and Signature Gin each secured 98 points, underlining the strength of the country’s thriving craft distilling scene.
All entries in the IWSC were judged blind by an expert panel featuring some of the most respected palates in the spirits industry. This year’s judges included former Beefeater master distiller Desmond Payne MBE, Enotria & Co buying director Andrew de Lavis-Trafford, and Siobhan Feeley, assistant distiller at London’s 58 & Co. Below, you’ll find the best gins from around the world, as judged at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition.
How do we judge these spirits?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous spirits tasting process. That means that each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
How do we score these spirits?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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12 of the best gins from around the world from the IWSC 2025
