The Scottish Gin Awards 2020 finalists have been announced, with 65 companies and 154 gins progressing to the final stage of the anticipated awards night, which this year will be a virtual event.
Earlier this year, an experienced and respected panel of experts from across the gin industry in the UK had the enviable task of tasting and judging each category.
These 26 judges blind tasted and graded every sample under strict technical conditions. Led by the competition’s technical consultants, sensory management experts Cara Technology, the panel assessed 194 gins entered in the competition, all distilled in Scotland.
Six businesses will compete for the coveted award, the Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Schweppes and these are Crafty Scottish Distillers, Glasgow Distillery Company, Isle of Skye Distillers, John Crabbie & Co, McQueen Gin and The Port of Leith Distillery.
This year, 194 gins were entered in the 2020 awards, an increase of 12 per cent on the 2019 awards.
The products were entered by 71 different organisations all distilling in Scotland and consisting of distilleries, contract distilleries and supermarket collaborations.
154 gins have made the 2020 finals, up from 116 gins in 2019 and 80 gins in 2018.
The most popular category is London Dry Gin with 51 products in the finals.
The categories with the biggest increase in products entered in 2020 compared to 2019 is distilled gin (up by 44 per cent) and fruit flavoured gin (up by 42 per cent).
Speaking of this year's awards, chair of the judging panel, Adam Hardie, said “To make it to the final stage of the Scottish Gin Awards is a huge achievement so congratulations must go to all these businesses who are operating at the top of their game in Scottish gin.
"For the consumer, this list is important as it is a comprehensive study for any gin fan looking for high quality Scottish products which taste great.
"They have all achieved the rating of a highly regarded panel of independent experts in gin production from across the UK.
"We look forward to celebrating the news of the winners when we gather as an industry next week in a digital celebration.”
The virtual event will be broadcast on Thursday 12 November from the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Glasgow and hosted by comedian Des Clarke.
To find out more and buy a ticket, visit the Scottish Gin Awards website.
ALDI UK
Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
Benromach Distillery
Black Thistle Distilleries
Bloodline Spirits
Boe Gin
Cairngorm Gin Company
City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School
Colonsay Beverages
Crafty Distillery
Darnley's Distillery
Deerness Distillery
Double Trouble Drinks
Dunnet Bay Distillers
Eden Mill St. Andrews
Edinburgh Gin
El:gin Findrassie
Electric Spirit Co.
ELJ Drinks
Fairytale Distillery
Farmhouse Gin
Fidra Gin
Glasgow Distillery Company
Glaswegin Distilling Co.
Gorgeous Gin
Highland Liquor Company
Ice and Fire Distillery
Inspirited
International Beverage
Isle of Barra Distillers
Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin
Isle of Harris Distillers
Isle of Rassay Distillery
Isle of Skye Distillers
John Crabbie & Co
Kilty Gin
Kinrara Distillery
Lenzie Gin
Lidl
Little Brown Dog Spirits
Loch Lomond Group
Lunun Gin
Mackintosh Gin
McQueen Gin
Nautilus Gin Foundry
North Uist Distillery
Orkney Distilling
Peebles Hydro
Perth Distillery Company
Purist Gin
Roehill Springs
Skaill House
Smithies Gin Company
Snawstorm Scottish Spirits.
South Loch Gin Distillery at 56 North
Stewart Brewing
Tay Spirits
The Biggar Gin Company
The Old Curiosity Distillery
The Pentland Still
The Port of Leith Distillery
The Wee Farm Distillery
Tiree Whisky Company
Toll House Spirits
Wallhouse Distillery
Wild Thyme Spirits
Crafty Scottish Distillers
Glasgow Distillery Company
Isle of Skye Distillers
John Crabbie & Co
McQueen Gin
The Port of Leith Distillery
Bloodline Spirits
Double Trouble Drinks
Highland Liquor Company
Inspirited
Isle of Raasay Distillery
Nautilus Gin Foundry
North Uist Distillery
Roehill Springs Distillery
Tay Spirits Ltd
Wallhouse Distillery
Black Thistle Distilleries
Eden Mill St. Andrews
ELJ Drinks
Loch Lomond Group
McQueen Gin
Toll House Spirits
Fidra Gin
Isle of Barra Distillers
Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin
John Crabbie & Co
Lenzie Gin
Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
Electric Spirit Co.
Ice and Fire Distillery
Kilty Gin
Little Brow Dog Spirits
Tarbraxus Distillers
Eden Mill St. Andrews
Edinburgh Gin
International Beverage
John Crabbie & Co
Carse of Stirling Distillers
City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School
Eden Mill St. Andrews
El:gin Findrassie
Fidra Gin
Glasgow Distillery Company
Glaswegin Distilling Co.
Highland Liquor Company
Kinrara Distillery
Lussa Drinks Company
North Uist Distillery
Snawstorm Scottish Spirits.
Stewart Brewing
The Biggar Gin Company
The Pentland Still
Tiree Whisky Company (Tyree Gin)
City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School
Crafty Scottish Distillers
Eden Mill St. Andrews
Inspirited Ltd
Skaill House
South Loch Gin Distillery at 56 North
Toll House Spirits
Darnley's Gin
Fairytale Distillery
Orkney Distilling Ltd
Benromach Distillery; Red Door Gin
South Loch Gin Distillery at 56 North
The Old Curiosity Distillery
The Wee Farm Distillery
1881 Hydro Gin London Dry; Peebles Hydro
Aberdeen Gin; City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School
Acquine Scottish Craft Gin; Lidl GB
Ben Lomond Gin; Loch Lomond Group
Black Thistle Cluaran; Black Thistle Distilleries
Cairngorm Gin; Cairngorm Gin Company
Caorunn Small Batch Scottish Gin; International Beverage
Ceann Loch Citrus Gin; Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
Crabbie's 1837 London Dry Gin; John Crabbie & Co
Darnley's Original Gin; Darnley's Distillery
Darnley's Spiced Gin; Darnley's Distillery
Downpour Scottish Dry Gin; North Uist Distillery
Eden Mill Original Gin; Eden Mill St. Andrews
Edinburgh Gin 1670; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Christmas; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Classic; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Seaside; Edinburgh Gin
Eidyn Gin; The Old Curiosity Distillery and ALDI
Farmhouse Gin; Farmhouse Gin
Fidra Gin; Fidra Gin
Fresh Gin; City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School
Glaswegin; Glaswegin Distilling Co.
Heart Of Alba; John Crabbie & Co
Hills & Harbour Gin; Crafty Distillery
Inspirited Original; Inspirited
Isle of Bute Island Gin; Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin
Isle of Bute Oyster Gin; Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin
Isle of Harris Gin; Isle of Harris Distillers
Kilty Gin; Kilty Gin
King's Hill Gin; The Pentland Still
Kintyre Botanical Gin; Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
Kirkjuvagr Gin; Orkney Distilling
Lenzie Gin; Lenzie Gin
Lind & Lime Gin; The Port of Leith Distillery
Mackintosh London Dry Gin; Mackintosh Gin
Makar Original Dry Gin; Glasgow Distillery Company
McQueen Super Premium Dry Gin; McQueen Gin
Miss G. Gorgeous Scottish Gin; Gorgeous Gin
Misty Isle Cill Targhlain Gin; Isle of Skye Distillers
Perth Gin; Perth Distillery Company
Purist Gin; Purist Gin
Red Door Gin; Benromach Distillery
RSPB Wild; The Old Curiosity Distillery
Scottish Dry Gin; Eden Mill St. Andrews & ALDI UK
Seven Crofts; Highland Liquor Company
Snawstorm Dry Gin; Snawstorm Scottish Spirits.
The Collector; Stewart Brewing
The Wandering Gin; City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School
Thyme for Rosemary Gin; City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School
Tuck Shop Gin; City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School
Wild Juniper; Kinrara Distillery
Achroous; Electric Spirit Co.
Artist Edition & Freya; Kinrara Distillery
Barra Atlantic Gin; Isle of Barra Distillers
Biggar Gin Original; The Biggar Gin Company
Caithness Highland Gin; Ice and Fire Distillery
Crofters Tears Highland Gin; Ice and Fire Distillery
Drovers Gin; The Wee Farm Distillery
Edinburgh Gin Valentines; Edinburgh Gin
el:gin; El:gin Findrassie
Elements by Haysmiths Air; ALDI
Elements by Haysmiths Earth; ALDI
Elements by Haysmiths Fire; ALDI
Gin No 5; Roehill Springs
Isle of Bute Gorse Gin; Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin
Isle of Bute Oaked Gin; Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin
Isle of Raasay Gin; Isle of Rassay Distillery
Kinrara Highland Dry; Kinrara Distillery
LBD Gin; Little Brown Dog Spirits
Lunun Gin; Lunun Gin
Misty Isle Gin; Isle of Skye Distillers
Redcastle Handcrafted Scottish Gin; Toll House Spirits
Rule Gin; Bloodline Spirits
Skaill House Gin; Skaill House
Sutors Gin; Nautilus Gin Foundry
Wallhouse Gin "Wally"; Wallhouse Distillery
Wild Island Botanic Gin Distiller's Cut; Colonsay Beverages
Wild Rose Gin; Tay Spirits
1881 Navy Strength Hydro Gin; Peebles Hydro
Biggar Strength Gin; The Biggar Gin Company
Caorunn Gin Masters Cut; International Beverage
Caorunn Highland Strength; International Beverage
Edinburgh Gin Cannonball; Edinburgh Gin
Farmers Strength Drovers Gin; The Wee Farm Distillery
Mackintosh Mariner Strength Gin; Mackintosh Gin
Navy Strength Rock Rose Gin; Deerness Distillery
Spiced Gin Navy Strength; Darnley's Distillery
Tarbert Legbiter Navy Strength Gin; Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
Colonsay Gin Cait Sith; Wild Thyme Spirits
Crabbie's 1891 Old Tom; John Crabbie & Co
Kirkjuvagr Beyla Gin; Orkney Distilling
Mackintosh Pineapple & Grapefruit Old Tom Gin; Mackintosh Gin
Makar Old Tom Gin; Glasgow Distillery Company
Misty Isle Pink Raspberry Old Tom Gin; Isle of Skye Distillers
No 29; Fairytale Distillery
Smithies Honeycomb Old Tom; Smithies Gin Company
South Loch Black Raspberry Old Tom; South Loch Gin Distillery at 56 North
Makar Mulberry Aged Gin; Glasgow Distillery Company
Makar Oak Aged Gin; Glasgow Distillery Company
Rock Rose Reserve Sherry Cask Edition; Dunnet Bay Distillers
1881 Pavilion Pink Hydro Gin; Peebles Hydro
1881 Subtly Smoked Hydro Gin; Peebles Hydro
Chocolate and Chilli Gin; Eden Mill St. Andrews
El:gin Gin-gle Gin; El:gin Findrassie
El:gin Speyside Heather Honey; El:gin Findrassie
Hebridean Pink Gin; Tiree Whisky Company
Inspirited Pink; Inspirited
Isle of Bute Heather Gin; Isle of Bute Hand Crafted Gin
Lavender and Echinacea Gin; The Old Curiosity Distillery
McQueen Premium Pink Gin; McQueen Gin
Misty Isle Mulled Christmas Gin; Isle of Skye Distillers
Rose & Cardamom; Kinrara Distillery
Ben Lomond Raspberry & Elderflower Infused Gin; Loch Lomond Group
Boe Passion Fruit Gin; Boe Gin
Caorunn Scottish Raspberry; International Beverage
Clydesdale Gin; The Wee Farm Distillery
Crabbie's Citrus Orange Gin - George Crabbie Edition; John Crabbie & Co
Crabbie's Pink Raspberry & Ginger Gin - Jack Crabbie Edition; John Crabbie & Co
Double Trouble Gin; Double Trouble Drinks
Downpour Sloe & Bramble Gin; North Uist Distillery
Edinburgh Gin Bramble & Honey Gin; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Lemon & Jasmine Gin; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Gin; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger Gin; Edinburgh Gin
Ellis Gin No.5 Lemon Gin; ELJ Drinks
Heart Of Alba Raspberry; John Crabbie & Co
Lemon Verbena; The Old Curiosity Distillery
McQueen Black Cherry and Vanilla Gin; McQueen Gin
Plum and Pink Grapefruit; Eden Mill St. Andrews & ALDI
South Loch Citrus & Lime Flower; South Loch Gin Distillery at 56 North
Toradh Rhubarb and Ginger Gin; McQueen Gin
Colonsay Gin Bramble Liqueur; Wild Thyme Spirits
Crabbie's 1858 Wildberry Liqueur; John Crabbie & Co
Edinburgh Gin Apple and Spice Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Elderflower Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Mulled Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Orange Blossom & Mandarin Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Plum and Vanilla Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Pomegranate and Rose Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Strawberry and Pink Pepper Gin Liqueur; Edinburgh Gin
King's Hill Rhubarb & Amaretto Liqueur; The Pentland Still
Kintyre Orange and Coffee Liqueur; Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
Lenzie Gin Liqueur; Lenzie Gin
Mango and Pineapple Liqueur; Eden Mill St. Andrews
Moray Berry; El:gin Findrassie
Moray Mocha; El:gin Findrassie
Raspberry, Vanilla and Meringue Liqueur; Eden Mill St. Andrews
Redcastle Blood Orange & Rhubarb Gin Liqueur; Toll House Spirits
Redcastle Raspberry & Pomegranate Gin Liqueur; Toll House Spirits
Redcastle Strawberry & Elderflower Gin Liqueur; Toll House Spirits
Salted Caramel & Baked Apple Gin Liqueur; Eden Mill St. Andrews & ALDI UK
Spiced Rhubarb Crumble Liqueur; Eden Mill St. Andrews
Scran episode 10: The community spirit behind Scotland's favourite gin - with Iona Cairns
