IWSC Mixer Awards: From G&T to Paloma, the serves that stood out

Spirit news

Fri 12 Sep 2025

By Ciaran Griffiths

The art of the perfect mixed serve was in the spotlight at this year’s IWSC, with spirits judged not only neat, but also in the context of how drinkers most often enjoy them – as part of a classic mixer. Thanks to our partnership with Franklin & Sons, who supplied the range of premium mixers used throughout judging, each serve was assessed in a consistent and professional context.

Gin & Tonic remains the benchmark

It was no surprise to see Gin & Tonic leading the pack, with a total of 38 medals awarded. Three entries rose to Gold: Gravity Gin (Germany), Patience Spring Gin (UK), and Toji Gin (Germany). Silvers and Bronze medals went to entries such as Dekadens Gin (Sweden) and Aloe Ferox Dry Gin (South Africa), Chi Gin (Germany) demonstrated the international depth of the field.

Whisky Highball’s rising influence

The Whisky Highball continues to grow in international relevance, with 21 medals awarded this year, including five Golds. These included Finest Blended Whiskey (Japan), Hav Single Malt Whisky (Sweden), Loch Lomond Signature Blended Scotch Whisky (UK), Royal Circle Blended Whisky (India), and Tourbillon Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Japan). Together they highlighted the global reach of the Highball, from traditional Scotch to bold new world styles.

Whisky & Ginger Ale adds spice
Alongside the Highball, the Whisky & Ginger Ale serve saw standout results. Hav Single Malt Whisky (Sweden) and Loch Lomond Signature Blended Scotch Whisky (UK) both earned Gold, with other medals spread across Japan and the UK. This showed how whisky’s versatility extends into warmer, spicier mixers as well as refreshing long serves.

Cola captures attention

Another serve gaining traction was Rum & Cola, which secured eight medals. The standout was Timon with a gold. Strong Silvers included Rom Rincon Premium (Cadushy Distillery, Netherlands) and Immoral® Spiced Rum (USA). Bronze medals went to V Spiced Rum (UK), Coconut Rum (USA), Doubled Spiced Dos Destiladores Rum (Sweden), Spice Drop Rum (UK), and Come Hell Or High Water Spiced Vanilla & Cola Rum (Finland).

Paloma signals tequila’s moment

The Paloma, a tequila and grapefruit soda serve long beloved in Mexico, also made its mark. Artesanal Blanco Tequila took Gold, while Artesanal Blanco Tequila and Florcita Blanco earned Silver, with the latter scoring a gold in the Tequila/Mezcal & Tonic category. These results reflect the increasing role of agave spirits in global mixed drinks.

Vodka’s mixer success

Vodka stood out in mixed serves, with the Vodka & Tonic category delivering some of the competition’s strongest results. Four entries took Gold: Gustav Dill Vodka (Finland), Killvo Vodka (Sweden), Vintage Vodka (Jersey), and XO Vodka (Australia). A wave of Silvers across Europe further reinforced vodka’s versatility in the glass.

As judge Ivan Dixon noted: “Vodka and tonics were surprisingly enjoyable to sample. Some characterful bases made for interesting flavour experiences.”


Low & No shows it's strengths
Reflecting the fast-growing no- and low-alcohol movement, this year’s awards also featured a dedicated Low/No mixer category. Melluna (Hong Kong) took Gold with its Soda Water serve, while Everleaf’s Forest and Mountain aperitifs (UK) impressed with Silvers alongside Nonsuch’s Caramelised Pineapple & Ginger Shrub. Bronze medals for Herb All Drinks’ Botanical Spirit and Tropic All reinforced the diversity and creativity in this space.

Global reach of mixer excellence

In terms of country performance, the United Kingdom led with 23 medals, followed by Sweden (12), Finland (8), and Germany (8). Japan’s seven medals were largely driven by its strength in the Highball, while the USA (5) and producers from Australia, Croatia, Denmark, and South Africa also made their presence felt.

From gin to whisky, rum to tequila, the IWSC Mixer Awards demonstrated not just the popularity of these classic serves, but also the craftsmanship and creativity with which producers are elevating them – supported by Franklin & Sons’ world-class mixers to ensure a fair and authentic evaluation.

See the full medal breakdown below.

Entry nameAwardProducerProducer Country
Gale Force GinGin & Tonic BronzeTriple Eight DistilleryUSA
Elg Gin MonobotanicalGin & Tonic BronzeStone GrangeDenmark
GinGin & Tonic SilverKyrö Distillery CompanyFinland
Seven Sons 10 YO Blended Scotch WhiskyWhiskey & Ginger Ale SilverNCD 1 Limited t/a 8 Doors DistilleryUnited Kingdom
Batch 24 VodkaVodka & Tonic BronzeRoyal MashJersey
Blauer St. Galler VodkaVodka & Tonic SilverDestillerie Brunner GmbHSwitzerland
El Tequileño Blanco TequilaPaloma BronzeJorge Salles Cuervo y SucsMexico
Borg VodkaVodka & Tonic SilverBorg of SwedenSweden
Dekadens GinGin & Tonic BronzeSkånska SpritfabrikenSweden
Los Muertos Joven Artesanal MezcalPaloma SilverLos Muertos Spirits GmbHGermany
Tourbillon Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch WhiskyWhisky Highball GoldTomonori YanagiyaJapan
Rye WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverFielden Whisky of EnglandUnited Kingdom
MellunaLow/No Drinks & Soda Water GoldBeetales LimitedHong Kong
XO VodkaVodka & Tonic GoldOrrsum SpiritsAustralia
Blueberry GinGin & Tonic SilverArctic Blue BeveragesFinland
Vintage VodkaVodka & Tonic GoldRoyal MashJersey
Olive GinGin & Tonic BronzePoetica DistilleryCroatia
Everleaf Non-Alcoholic Aperitif MountainLow/No Drinks & Tonic SilverLondon Botanical DrinksUnited Kingdom
London Dry GinGin & Tonic BronzeSkånska SpritfabrikenSweden
Pandan VodkaVodka & Tonic BronzeMothaibaUnited Kingdom
Loch Lomond Signature Blended Scotch WhiskyWhiskey & Ginger Ale Gold, Whisky Highball GoldLoch Lomond DistilleryUnited Kingdom
Killvo VodkaVodka & Tonic GoldTevsjö Mill & DistillerySweden
Gin MareGin & Tonic SilverBrown-Forman CorporationUSA
Toji GinGin & Tonic GoldÎle Four Modern Sake by Spyglass Trading Europe GmbHGermany
Gustav Metsä GinGin & Tonic SilverLignell & PiispanenFinland
Everleaf Non-Alcoholic Aperitif ForestLow/No Drinks & Ginger Ale SilverLondon Botanical DrinksUnited Kingdom
Boogie Edition GinGin & Tonic SilverPoetica DistilleryCroatia
The Hive Blended Malt Scotch WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverWemyss Family SpiritsUnited Kingdom
36 South Double Grain Australian WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverCasella Family BrandsAustralia
Gustav Dill VodkaVodka & Tonic GoldLignell & PiispanenFinland
Pure Glacier VodkaVodka & Tonic SilverVodka 57Singapore
Siren GinGin & Tonic SilverSimevth EnterprisesCyprus
Goa VodkaVodka & Tonic BronzeGOA VodkaNetherlands
TimonRum & Cola GoldSt Nicolaus Group a.sSlovakia
Uppsala GinGin & Tonic BronzeFirst Distillery SigtunaSweden
Aloe Ferox Dry GinGin & Tonic SilverHarmony DistillerySouth Africa
Cigar Special RyeWhisky Highball BronzeFeinbrennerei SasseGermany
Thompson Bros SRV5 Blended Malt Scotch WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverDornoch Distillery CoUnited Kingdom
Lagg Kilmory Edition Single Malt Scotch WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverIsle of Arran DistillersUnited Kingdom
Rom Rincon PremiumRum & Cola SilverCadushy DistilleryNetherlands
Peat Chimney Blended Malt Scotch WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverWemyss Family SpiritsUnited Kingdom
Vinaya Single Malt Scotch WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverBladnoch DistilleryUnited Kingdom
Caramelised Pineapple & Ginger ShrubLow/No Drinks & Tonic SilverNonsuch ShrubsUnited Kingdom
Ohoro Limited Edition Lavender GinGin & Tonic SilverNiseko DistilleryJapan
Florcita BlancoPaloma Silver, Tequila/Mezcal & Tonic GoldFlorcita TequilaMexico
1834 Premium Distilled GinGin & Tonic BronzeGinebra San Miguel Inc.Philippines
Gravity GinGin & Tonic GoldGrüngefühl Destillerie UGGermany
Flying Emu GinGin & Tonic BronzeSáppusztai Pálinkaf?zdeHungary
GinzansiGin & Tonic BronzeHarmony DistillerySouth Africa
Honeybush GinGin & Tonic SilverHarmony DistillerySouth Africa
Ginstr Stuttgart Dry GinGin & Tonic SilverStuttgart Distillers GmbHGermany
Gustav Arctic VodkaVodka & Tonic BronzeLignell & PiispanenFinland
Grapefruit VodkaVodka & Tonic SilverFinlandia Vodka OyFinland
Spice King Blended Malt Scotch WhiskyWhiskey & Ginger Ale SilverWemyss Family SpiritsUnited Kingdom
V Spiced RumRum & Cola BronzeV Spirits CompanyUnited Kingdom
Elements Of Islay Cask Edit Blended Malt Scotch WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverElixir DistillersUnited Kingdom
Artesanal Blanco TequilaPaloma GoldLos Muertos Spirits GmbHMexico
Bourbon WhiskeyWhiskey & Ginger Ale Silver, Whisky Highball BronzeBeyond Distilling CompanyUSA
Dry Gin (47%)Gin & Tonic SilverHernö GinSweden
Dry Gin (40.5%)Gin & Tonic SilverHernö GinSweden
Gin 4400Gin & Tonic BronzeRodrigo racichArgentina
Atlantik Finish RyeWhisky Highball SilverFeinbrennerei SasseGermany
Elg Gin No. 1Gin & Tonic BronzeStone GrangeDenmark
Timmer Single Malt WhiskyWhiskey & Ginger Ale Silver, Whisky Highball SilverHigh Coast Distillery ABSweden
Autumn GinGin & Tonic SilverPatience DistilleryUnited Kingdom
Hav Single Malt WhiskyWhiskey & Ginger Ale Gold, Whisky Highball GoldHigh Coast Distillery ABSweden
London Dry GinGin & Tonic SilverVánagandr DestileríasSpain
Imodaimyo GinGin & Tonic BronzeOumiya NagaokaJapan
Rose GinGin & Tonic BronzeArctic Blue BeveragesFinland
Gin 01 London Dry GinGin & Tonic BronzeGinagain Spirits LimitedUnited Kingdom
V Gallery Cucumber Premium Vodka Spirit DrinkVodka & Tonic BronzeJayish LondonUnited Kingdom
Coconut RumRum & Cola BronzeBeyond Distilling CompanyUSA
Doubled Spiced Dos Destiladores RumRum & Cola BronzeSkånska SpritfabrikenSweden
Chi GinGin & Tonic BronzeSamposen GmbHGermany
Spice Drop RumRum & Cola BronzeDropWorks Rum DistilleryUnited Kingdom
Portovikens Old Tom GinGin & Tonic SilverSkånska SpritfabrikenSweden
Immoral® Spiced RumRum & Cola SilverRed Eye Louie'sUSA
Ohoro Standard GinGin & Tonic SilverNiseko DistilleryJapan
Hemvandaren Double Cask Single Malt WhiskyWhisky Highball SilverSkånska SpritfabrikenSweden
Umeshu Finish 12 YO Small Batch Pure Malt Blended WhiskeyWhisky Highball SilverHatozaki WhiskyJapan
Come Hell Or High Water Spiced Vanilla & Cola RumRum & Cola BronzeOne Eyed SpiritsFinland
Elg Gin No. 0Gin & Tonic BronzeStone GrangeDenmark
Elg Gin No. 3Gin & Tonic BronzeStone GrangeDenmark
Finest Blended WhiskeyWhisky Highball GoldHatozaki WhiskyJapan
Fruit Drops Blended Irish WhiskeyWhisky Highball BronzeTwo Stacks Irish WhiskeyUnited Kingdom
Ginuine London Dry GinGin & Tonic SilverPoetica DistilleryCroatia
Herb All Botanical SpiritLow/No Drinks & Tonic BronzeHerbAll DrinksUnited Kingdom
London Dry GinGin & Tonic BronzeBERKEL GinNetherlands
Patience Spring GinGin & Tonic GoldPatience DistilleryUnited Kingdom
Royal Circle Blended WhiskyWhisky Highball GoldRegent GlobalIndia
Small Batch Pure Malt Blended WhiskeyWhisky Highball SilverHatozaki WhiskyJapan
Tropic All (Rum Replacement)Low/No Drinks & Ginger Ale BronzeHerbAll DrinksUnited Kingdom