Gin Magazine Awards 2021 winners announced

The best and brightest in the world of gin have been commended in the Gin Magazine Awards 2021.

For the first time the awards were announced virtually, in a broadcast streamed on Facebook via their presenter, Gin Magazine.

Comprising three parts, the Gin Magazine Awards are designed to commend the best people, places and products in the gin industry: the Icons of Gin, celebrating people and places; the World Gin Awards, recognising the best products from around the world; and the Gin Magazine Hall of Fame, which honours individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the industry. 

This year's winners included Brazil's Amázzoni Gin, which was crowned Distiller of the Year in the Icons of Gin, and Lydén Distillery in Sweden, which took the prize for World's Best London Dry Gin in the World Gin Awards.

Meanwhile, four titans of the global industry were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Lesley Gracie, master distiller at Hendrick's Gin; spirits writer and judge David T. Smith; Natasha Bahrami, owner of The Gin Room in. St. Louis and founder of The Gin World; and Jean-Sébastien Robicquet, of France's Maison Villevert. 

Bethany Whymark, editor of Gin Magazine, said: "Now is a wonderful time to be working in the world of gin, and we are proud to be able to celebrate the industry's best through our awards - which were presented in a virtual format for the first time ever in 2021.

"Those in the gin industry have demonstrated an incredible resilience and a great deal of compassion over the past year, helping not only their own businesses but those of others to survive and flourish in challenging circumstances. Their efforts should be commended.

"Congratulations to all our Icons of Gin and World Gin Awrds winners, and our new Hall of Fame inductees, and we look forward to celebrating with you all in person soon."

Anita Ujszaszi, awards director of the World Gin Awards, said: "Despite the challenges of the past 12 months for our gin producers, the World Gin Awards have had a fantastic response. 

"We received a record-breaking number of entries, with more than 800 gins submitted, and the quality has been outstanding across the board. Thank you to all the producers who entered and delighted us with their gins. 

"A sincere thanks must also go to our global judging panel, who have been incredibly supportive and professional in the face of an unusual time for the World Gin Awards."

25 February 2021 - Bethany Whymark