Beyond the familiar categories of Classic, Contemporary and Flavoured gin lies a collection of experimental styles that reveal gin's evolving identity. At IWSC 2025, these niche categories - from heritage Old Tom to barrel-aged expressions and grape-based innovations - attracted smaller entry numbers but sparked the biggest debates among judges about authenticity, commercial viability and where gin's future lies.
Old Tom & Sloe Gin
Old Tom gin, the 18th-century "missing link" between Dutch genever and modern London Dry, received 14 entries, achieving 4 silvers and 10 bronzes. Judges remain cautious about the category: "Old Toms were consistently good, but there was little that truly stood out," observed Sarah Miller, drinks writer and IWSC judge. Australia led the Silver medal count with Kangaroo Island Distillery (93 points) and Ester Distilling (92 points), while Sweden's Hernö Old Tom Gin matched that score.
Sloe gin, the berry-infused liqueur, received 6 entries, with Australia bringing home silver for Dasher+Fisher (91 points) and Nine Circles Distillery (92 points). These results suggest renewed trade interest in heritage styles, particularly among bartenders seeking authenticity for classic cocktail programmes.
Wood-Finished and Cask-Aged Gins
Wood-finished and cask-aged gins proved the most contentious category, dividing judges on both quality and commercial logic. Wood-finished expressions earned one Gold, one Silver, and seven Bronze medals from 14 entries, while cask-aged gins achieved eight Silver and seven Bronze medals from 19 entries.
The scepticism was palpable. "Aged gin is sadly still a way to use up gin or replace other aged spirits," noted Emily Collins, spirits buyer at Enotria & Co. Sam Carter, Senior Brand Ambassador at Bombay Sapphire, observed producers "putting a failed gin into a barrel to try to correct or save it. Never good."
Yet standouts emerged. Cygnet 77 Oak Aged Gin from the UK earned Gold (96 points), while The Botanist Islay Cask Rested Gin secured Silver (92 points). Ivan Dixon noted the "Oceanic aged gin flight was surprisingly good - products were well made with bright botanical notes and well-managed wood."
Grape-Based Innovation
Perhaps the most intriguing development was grape-based gins, where distillers use grapes rather than grain as their base spirit. From six entries, five earned medals, led by The Secret Garden Distillery's Pinot Noir Gin (Gold, 95 points) from the UK. New Zealand's Roots Rosso Pinot Noir Gin (Silver, 90 points) and Australia's Naught Distilling Sangiovese Gin (Bronze, 88 points) demonstrated global interest in this wine-gin hybrid approach.
This technique, also seen in premium vodka production, adds aromatic complexity and softer mouthfeel while maintaining juniper's botanical leadership.
Commercial Reality Check
The challenge for these experimental styles lies in consumer adoption beyond the aficionado market. As Fabio Spinetti, Director of Bars at Rocco Forte Hotels, observed: "We've had years of gin innovation - crazy botanicals, gimmicks, you name it. But now I see a shift back to tradition, with a focus on high quality and craft."
For aged gins specifically, Keli Rivers, Senior Brand Ambassador at Sipsmith, offered practical advice: "When making a Rested Gin, understanding the product's journey from the eyes of the general consumer will help with repurchase. For trade use, think about how it fits into cocktail programs and beverage costing."
The IWSC results suggest these experimental categories serve a role as innovation laboratories where techniques and flavours can be tested before influencing mainstream gin production. As Dixon noted, the best examples showed "flavour definition, balance, and a true representation of their category."
For an industry seeking to balance tradition with innovation, these niche styles offer valuable lessons in craftsmanship.
Explore the full results for specialty gin categories below. The full set of IWSC results can be explored on our website.
Score | Award | Producer | Entry Name | Country of Origin | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
96 | Gold | Cygnet Distillery | Cygnet 77 Oak Aged Gin | Wales | Wood Finished/Rested |
95 | Gold | The Secret Garden Distillery | Pinot Noir Gin | Scotland | Wine/Grape infused Gin |
93 | Silver | Kangaroo Island Distillery | Old Tom Gin | Australia | Old Tom |
92 | Silver | Destilados Casablanca | Gin Old Tom | Chile | Old Tom |
92 | Silver | Ester Distilling | Old Tom Gin | Australia | Old Tom |
92 | Silver | Hernö Gin | Old Tom Gin | Sweden | Old Tom |
92 | Silver | Destileria Patagonica SAS | Refugios Bosque Gin | Argentina | Wood Finished/Rested |
92 | Silver | Nine Circles Distillery | Sloe Gin | Australia | Sloe Gin |
92 | Silver | Bruichladdich Distillery Company | The Botanist Islay Cask Rested Gin | Scotland | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
91 | Silver | Cauldron Distillery | Christmas Gin (Barrel Aged) | Australia | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
91 | Silver | Southern Wild Distillery | Dasher+Fisher Sloe Gin | Australia | Sloe Gin |
91 | Silver | Moonshiner | Ferndale Street Maple Barrel Rested Gin | Australia | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
91 | Silver | Poetica Distillery | Limited Barrel Aged Gin | Croatia | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
91 | Silver | Swallows and Spirits Distillery | Premium Cask Gin | Sweden | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
90 | Silver | Four Pillars Distillery | Bloody Shiraz Gin | Australia | Wine/Grape infused Gin |
90 | Silver | Monkey 47 | Monkey 47 Sloe Gin | Germany | Sloe Gin |
90 | Silver | Rifters | Pinot Noir Barrel Aged Gin | New Zealand | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
90 | Silver | Elemental Distillers | Roots Rosso Pinot Noir Gin | New Zealand | Wine/Grape infused Gin |
90 | Silver | Distillerie Le Compas | Spirit Of The Creuse | France | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
90 | Silver | Turner Stillhouse | Three Cuts Pinot Barrel Rested Gin | Australia | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
89 | Bronze | The Winslow Distillery | Halo Premium New Zealand Old Tom Gin | New Zealand | Old Tom |
89 | Bronze | Matsui Sake Brewery Co. | Rinne Old Tom Gin | Japan | Old Tom |
89 | Bronze | Central Hisumer | The Sting G?Old Tom Gin | England | Old Tom |
89 | Bronze | Plymouth Gin | Sloe Gin | England | Sloe Gin |
89 | Bronze | Arctic Blue Beverages | Cask Gin | Finland | Wood Finished/Rested |
89 | Bronze | Hai Seas Distillery | Crazy Eights Gold Oak Barrel Aged Gin | China | Wood Finished/Rested |
89 | Bronze | Capreolus Distillery | Ginout Gin | England | Wood Finished/Rested |
89 | Bronze | Turner Stillhouse | Three Cuts Chardonnay Barrel Rested Gin | Australia | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
88 | Bronze | Tonik Distilling | 13 Peaks Of Nelson Old Tom Gin | Canada | Old Tom |
88 | Bronze | Antiche Distillerie Riunite - Rossi d'Asiago | Kranebet Italian Botanical Gin | Italy | Old Tom |
88 | Bronze | Destilería Quebracho | Old Tom Gin | Argentina | Old Tom |
88 | Bronze | Naught Distilling | Sangiovese Gin | Australia | Wine/Grape infused Gin |
88 | Bronze | Mousehall Estate | Barrel-Aged Gin | England | Wood Finished/Rested |
88 | Bronze | Destileria Thevenon | La Francesa Aged Gin | Argentina | Wood Finished/Rested |
88 | Bronze | Southern Wild Distillery | Dasher+Fisher Whisky Barrel Gin | Australia | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
88 | Bronze | Distilleria Sibona | Maeco Gin Port Cask Aged | Italy | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
87 | Bronze | Ian Macleod Distillers | Edinburgh Gin Old Tom | Scotland | Old Tom |
87 | Bronze | Black Hill d.o.o. | Commodore's Trnjak Edition Gin | Croatia | Wine/Grape infused Gin |
87 | Bronze | Destilería Delirio | Delirio Gin | Argentina | Wood Finished/Rested |
87 | Bronze | Never Never Distilling | Argo Gin | Australia | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
86 | Bronze | Skånska Spritfabriken | Portovikens Old Tom Gin | Sweden | Old Tom |
86 | Bronze | Destilarna Pozvacin, Bostjan Gabor s.p,. | Pozvacin Old Tom Gin | Slovenia | Old Tom |
86 | Bronze | Harmony Distillery | Old Tom Barrel Aged Gin | South Africa | Wood Finished/Rested |
86 | Bronze | Sinners S.A | Malbec Gin | Argentina | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
86 | Bronze | Bruichladdich Distillery Company | The Botanist Islay Cask Aged Gin | Scotland | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
86 | Bronze | Kangaroo Island Distillery | Whisky Barrel Gin | Australia | Wood Finished/Rested -> Cask Finish |
85 | Bronze | Kosta Destilleri | Bruksgin | Sweden | Old Tom |
85 | Bronze | Gyre & Gimble | Hedgerow & Sloe Gin | England | Sloe Gin |