THE JUNIPERS
New Zealand Gin Awards 2024
We are pleased to launch The Junipers 2024, New Zealand’s Gin Awards.
The gin category has seen significant growth in recent years with gin distillers consistently creating new and exciting gins in New Zealand and overseas.
This is an opportunity to showcase your brand, increase awareness to consumers and a chance to promote an awarded brand in New Zealand.
We invited gins from around the world to be entered into one of seven gin categories and to be tasted and rated by an expert judging panel.
Judging Dates 23rd-25th October
GIN CATEGORIES
Classic Dry
Definition:
Made from a neutral base spirit of agricultural source, distilled with traditional botanicals where juniper is the dominant botanical and characteristic. This is a London Dry category where botanicals must be added through steeping pre-distillation or vapour distillation. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37% abv. Classic Dry Gin cannot be coloured or flavoured artificially.
Contemporary Dry
Definition:
Made from a neutral base spirit of agricultural source, this is a London Dry category where botanicals must be added through steeping pre-distillation or vapour distillation. The botanical profile must include juniper but the gin overall may have a character which emphasizes and includes other botanicals, including native and non-traditional botanicals. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37% abv. Contemporary Style Gin cannot be coloured or flavoured artificially.
Contemporary Modern
Definition: Made from a neutral base spirit of agricultural source, where the flavour profile heroes non-traditional botanical profiles and juniper may not be dominant. Other distillation or flavour infusion methods may be used. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37%.
Old Tom
Definition: Old Tom is a sweeter, less-botanical version of gin. Old Tom’s sweetness is derived from naturally sweet botanicals, malts or added sugar. It is generally considered richer in flavour than London Dry Gin. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37% abv. Old Tom cannot be coloured or flavoured artificially.
Matured
Definition: Made from a neutral base spirit of agricultural source, where botanicals must be added through steeping pre-distillation or vapour distillation and the gin has been matured in wooden barrels for a period of time. The botanical profile must include juniper but the gin overall may have a character which emphasizes and includes other botanicals, including native and non-traditional botanicals. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37% abv. Matured Gin cannot be coloured or flavoured artificially other than that obtained from the barrel itself
Flavoured Gin
Definition: Made from a neutral base spirit of agricultural source, a distilled gin that has been flavoured with fruit or other botanicals, typically via infusion or maceration. Artificial colours and flavours may be added.
Navy Strength
Definition: Made from a neutral base spirit of agricultural source, this is a category where botanicals must be added through steeping pre-distillation or vapour distillation. The botanical profile must include juniper but the gin overall may have a character which emphasizes and includes other botanicals, including native and non-traditional botanicals. Must be bottled at a minimum of 50% abv. Navy Strength Gin cannot be coloured or flavoured artificially.
Gin Liqueurs
Definition: Gin liqueur is made from distilled gin and infused with flavours and sweeteners such as fruit, confectionary, and sugar, where the minimum sugar content is 100g per litre and the ABV is 35% or less.
New Zealand Flavoured
Definition: Gin distilled in New Zealand. Flavoured with fruit or other botanicals.
New Zealand Classic Dry
Definition: Gin distilled in New Zealand. Produced using a clean base spirit with a neutral taste, allowing the distilled flavours of the botanicals to come through. The flavouring must be added during or before the distillation process. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37% abv. Classic Dry Gin cannot be coloured or flavoured artificially.
MEET SOME OF OUR JUDGES
Gina Nicholls
Gina Nicholls has been working in the hospitality industry for around a decade with past experience seeing her work at events all around the world, from royal weddings to the Formula 1 track on Yas Island. These experiences saw Gina move onto fine dining restaurants and bars, which ignited her passion for cocktail making. Gina is now on-premise sales manager for Tickety Boo.
Tash McGill (Head Judge)
Tash is a spirits writer, expert and and ambassador for all things brewed, fermented and distilled. As Aōtearoa’s leading spirits writer, Tash is uniquely committed to promoting gin, the emerging whisky community and continuing to educate and explore the global spirits scene.
PRINCIPAL SPONSOR
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor contact us at: ahian@superliquor.co.nz