Is flavoured gin still relevant in 2025?

Spirit news

Wed 30 Jul 2025

By Gosia Young

Flavoured gin has long been one of the most polarising spirits - celebrated for creativity yet criticised for prioritising style over substance. At IWSC 2025, it once again proved why it’s such a talking point.

With 92 entries and 65 medals awarded (including 2 Gold Outstanding and 8 Golds), the category showed signs of maturity and a shift toward higher quality. But with fewer entries than previous years, the question remains: Is flavoured gin still relevant in 2025?

What is Flavoured Gin?

Flavoured gin allows a dominant flavour - beyond juniper - to take centre stage. Often created through post-distillation infusions of fruits, spices, or botanicals, it’s a style designed for boldness and approachability. While these gins attracted new drinkers during the gin boom, today’s consumers are demanding more balance, nuance, and versatility.

Singapore's Jasmine Triumph

This year, Singapore stole the show with a Gold Outstanding for Brass Lion Distillery’s Pearl Jasmine Gin, infused with Dragon Phoenix Pearl Jasmine Tea. Judge Anthony Gladman praised it: “Finally, someone has captured jasmine tea beautifully - delicious.” Tea botanicals appeared in 15 entries, reflecting a wider trend across the competition, particularly in countries where tea is culturally significant.

Meanwhile, the UK reaffirmed its dominance with five Gold medals, including Market Harborough Honey Co.’s Three Bees Raspberry & Elderflower Gin (96 points) and Balmenach Distillery’s Caorunn Scottish Raspberry Gin (96 points).

Market Reality vs Quality Evolution

The statistics tell a story of transition. As IWSC Spirits Judging Committee member Olivier Ward noted: “Flavoured gin is declining fastest across all metrics - volume, value, everything. It’s in double-digit decline.”

Yet Ward also saw significant progress: “We’re seeing more clarity of intent in the flavoured gins entered this year. Producers are taking more time, with more intention behind it, and it shows in the glass.”

This sentiment was echoed by judges. Siobhan Feeley praised producers for moving away from excessive sugar: “More natural sweetness and authentic flavours were the ones scoring higher.”  Emily Collins agreed, highlighting successful entries with “balance of flavour and ABV, and a strong identity. Fresh fruit flavours were preferred over artificial ones.”

The Survival Strategy

What separates commercial survivors from casualties? Ward explained: “The flavoured gins that are surviving are balanced, nuanced, and have depth. They integrate the lead flavour - whether fruit, herb, flower, or smoke - with an underlying gin complexity that works in any use case for the consumer.”

Certain styles stood out. Coffee-flavoured gins proved surprisingly successful, with judge Sarah Miller “loving some of the coffee and smoked-infused gins.” Raspberry gins also impressed as “fresh, vibrant expressions of the newly picked fruit,” noted Collins.

However, barrel-aged gins divided opinion. With 18 mentions across entries, some judges saw them as an attempt to “rescue” weak gins. Anthony Gladman remarked: “Aged gin is sadly still used as a way to ‘rescue’ gins or replace other aged spirits.”

Botanical trends also highlighted shifts: citrus remained the category’s universal anchor (38 mentions), while pink and floral notes (15 mentions) and native botanicals (12 mentions) showcased terroir, especially in Australian and South African gins.

What’s Next in Flavoured Gin?

For producers, the judges offered clear advice. “Don’t just think about whether you can make it,” said Lees. “Think about why you should - and why consumers will want to drink it.” Collins added: “Be clear about what your liquid represents and commit to it. Middle-of-the-road pleases no one.”

Ward summed up the category’s future: “If you’re going to drink less, drink better. The market is curating itself around that.”

The 2025 IWSC results show that while flavoured gin may be smaller, the survivors are building something more sustainable - products with purpose, quality and real consumer appeal.

Explore the full list of Flavoured Gin winners below.


ScoreAwardProducerEntry NameCountry of Origin
99Gold OutstandingBlack Fox Farm and DistilleryHaskap GinCanada
98Gold OutstandingBrass Lion DistilleryPearl Jasmine GinSingapore
96GoldBalmenach DistilleryCaorunn Scottish Raspberry GinScotland
96GoldCygnet DistilleryCygnet 77 Oak Aged GinWales
96GoldNao Spirits & BeveragesGreater Than No Sleep GinIndia
96GoldMarket Harborough Honey Co.Three Bees Raspberry & Elderflower GinEngland
95GoldSkånska SpritfabrikenDekadens GinSweden
95GoldBrass Lion DistilleryHawthorn GinSingapore
95GoldLidl Great BritainHortus Rhubarb & Ginger GinEngland
95GoldThe Secret Garden DistilleryPinot Noir GinScotland
95GoldWestward FarmRose Geranium GinEngland
95GoldMarket Harborough Honey Co.Three Bees Sicilian Lemon GinEngland
94SilverNong Distillery Co.Paochong Tea GinTaiwan
93SilverArtisans Secret DistilleryJaffa GinAustralia
93SilverKangaroo Island DistilleryOld Tom GinAustralia
92SilverEckerts Wacholder Brennerei GmbHCastelgy Orange GinGermany
92SilverÎle Four Modern Sake by Spyglass Trading Europe GmbHToji GinJapan
92SilverDestilados CasablancaGin Old TomChile
92SilverDestilería DelirioLondon Dry Menta GinArgentina
92SilverJan Paul MericoMi Tierra Chamomile GinItaly
92SilverEster DistillingOld Tom GinAustralia
92SilverHernö GinOld Tom GinSweden
92SilverDestileria Patagonica SASRefugios Bosque GinArgentina
92SilverBimmerle Private DistillerySchwarzwald Pink Distilled GinGermany
92SilverNine Circles DistillerySloe GinAustralia
92SilverBruichladdich Distillery CompanyThe Botanist Islay Cask Rested GinScotland
89BronzeSix Point EightAurora GinCroatia
89BronzeEckerts Wacholder Brennerei GmbHDeluxe Madagaskar Vanilla GinGermany
89BronzeBimmerle Private DistilleryDeluxe Rose Distilled GinGermany
89BronzeEckerts Wacholder BrennereiHampstead Pink GinGermany
89BronzeAldiHaysmith's Raspberry & Redcurrant Pink GinEngland
89BronzeEckerts Wacholder BrennereiSteam Brew GinGermany
89BronzeCauldron DistillerySunset GinAustralia
89BronzeThe Winslow DistilleryHalo Premium New Zealand Old Tom GinNew Zealand
89BronzeMatsui Sake Brewery Co.Rinne Old Tom GinJapan
89BronzeCentral HisumerThe Sting G Old Tom GinEngland
89BronzePlymouth GinSloe GinEngland
89BronzeArctic Blue BeveragesCask GinFinland
89BronzeHai Seas DistilleryCrazy Eights Gold Oak Barrel Aged GinChina
89BronzeCapreolus DistilleryGinout GinEngland
89BronzeTurner StillhouseThree Cuts Chardonnay Barrel Rested GinAustralia
88BronzeBond Street DistilleryBlood Orange GinEngland
88BronzeArtisans Secret DistilleryBlue AlchemyAustralia
88BronzeHawkridge DistillersCripps Wild Strawberry GinEngland
88BronzeHillmartin DistilleryHm Seven Spice Chai GinAustralia
88BronzeGibson'sItalian Lemon Premium GinFrance
88BronzeThe Ethical SpiritsKyoto Pepper ÉthiqueJapan
88BronzeReefton Distilling Co.Little Biddy Pink GinNew Zealand
88BronzeRamsburyRaspberry & Wildflower Honey GinEngland
88BronzeNozawa Onsen DistilleryShiso GinJapan
88BronzeTaiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation, Lungtien DistilleryTaiwan Coriander Superb Craft GinTaiwan
88BronzeTonik Distilling13 Peaks Of Nelson Old Tom GinCanada
88BronzeAntiche Distillerie Riunite - Rossi d'AsiagoKranebet Italian Botanical GinItaly
88BronzeDestilería QuebrachoOld Tom GinArgentina
88BronzeNaught DistillingSangiovese GinAustralia
88BronzeMousehall EstateBarrel-Aged GinEngland
88BronzeDestileria ThevenonLa Francesa Aged GinArgentina
88BronzeSouthern Wild DistilleryDasher+Fisher Whisky Barrel GinAustralia
88BronzeDistilleria SibonaMaeco Gin Port Cask AgedItaly
87BronzeArctic Blue BeveragesRose GinFinland
87BronzeEckerts Wacholder Brennerei GmbHCastelgy Pink GinGermany
87BronzeSkånska SpritfabrikenDry Blue GinSweden
87BronzeBrewDog Distilling CoLonewolf Mexican Lime GinScotland
87BronzeIsle of Wight DistilleryMermaid Zest GinEngland
87BronzeMalfy GinRosa GinItaly
87BronzeBränneriet i Åre ABRosé GinSweden
87BronzeBimmerle Private DistillerySchwarzwald Distilled Winter GinGermany
87BronzeGlobus SpiritsTerrai Fresh Litchis & Mulberries Craft GinIndia
87BronzeIan Macleod DistillersEdinburgh Gin Old TomScotland
87BronzeBlack Hill d.o.o.Commodore's Trnjak Edition GinCroatia
87BronzeDestilería DelirioDelirio GinArgentina
87BronzeNever Never DistillingArgo GinAustralia
86BronzeSkånska SpritfabrikenPortovikens Old Tom GinSweden
86BronzeReefton Distilling Co.Little Biddy Spiced Apple GinNew Zealand
86BronzeBond Street DistilleryPassion For Pride GinEngland
86BronzeBeefeaterPeach & RaspberryEngland
86BronzeLiving Root Beverages Private LimitedSector Hibiscus And Peach GinIndia
86BronzeDestilarna Pozvacin, BoŠtjan Gabor s.p,.Pozvacin Old Tom GinSlovenia
86BronzeHarmony DistilleryOld Tom Barrel Aged GinSouth Africa
86BronzeSinners S.AMalbec GinArgentina
86BronzeBruichladdich Distillery CompanyThe Botanist Islay Cask Aged GinScotland
86BronzeKangaroo Island DistilleryWhisky Barrel GinAustralia
85BronzeArtisans Secret DistilleryChilli Plum GinAustralia
85BronzeMordo Corp Sp. Z.o.oFloat Cheerful GinPoland
85BronzePagan Brew Co.Freyja Strawberry-Raspberry & Nettle GinEngland
85BronzeBeefeaterPink StrawberryEngland
85BronzeBoomsma DistilleryStirling Pink GinNetherlands
85BronzeKosta DestilleriBruksginSweden
85BronzeGyre & GimbleHedgerow & Sloe GinEngland