UKIYO Japanese Blossom Gin, 40%, 70 cl

Product Information

This coveted award will be shortlisted to between eight - twelve finalists by our panel of expert judges. The winner will be decided by the public over a 5 month voting period commencing 31st May, with votes driven through a variety of different content, events, tastings and experiences. The visual impact of a stunning bottle should never be underestimated and helps leave a lasting first impression, whilst adding that little extra value to the enjoyment of a gin. THE JUDGING CRITERIA Ukiyo Yuzu Gin is another head turner with the two tone colour design highlighting the mountains and the sea that surround the distillery. From the makers of Bruichladdich whisky, The Botanist gin has a sophisticated citrus-forward flavour that pairs well with tonic and ice.

Gin and vodka are exceptionally popular categories in New Zealand, with the gin market expected to grow annually by 11.09% and the vodka market expected to grow annually by 9.94% (CAGR 2022-2025), according to Statista.” The Gin To My Tonic is one of the largest gin communities in the UK, with the aim of raising awareness and celebrating the endeavours of craft distillers from across the UK and beyond. We love nothing more than recommending gins, and what better way to recommend than with our very own annual awards. Know your Bourdeaux from your Burgundy? Then you’ll also be familiar with Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchants Berry Bros & Rudd, aka the brains behind this bottle.Born in Kagoshima Japan, in the shadow of the Sakurajima volcano, Ukiyo Yuzu Gin is made from a traditional Japanese shochu spirit, which is then redistilled using juniper, yuzu, more citrus and a whole host of regional botanicals.

Ukiyo Rice Vodka was launched in December last year, and is crafted on the tropical island of Okinawa. It was produced in a distillery that makes the local rice spirit awamori, a liquid indigenous to Okinawa. The classic Martini is a favourite of any gin enthusiast. Any gins shortlisted will be incredible and delicious in equal measure. Producing a good cask-aged Gin is no mean feat, with so much risk and uncertainty, the distiller has to be at the top of their game, but the results are often most rewarding. THE JUDGING CRITERIA The result sings of spring, with an intriguing floral bouquet led by elderflower, rose and lemon balm. Pair it with lemon juice, soda, mint and cucumber wheels for a refreshing spritz to welcome the warmer weather.You’ll find Hepple gracing the leatherbound menus of Britain’s finest drinking dens – and with good reason, too. Distilled in the Northumberland wilds, a heady blend of botanicals undergoes a three-stage extraction, resulting in a vibrant gin that jumps out the glass from the get-go. If you like your spirit to lean heavily on the citrus and herbs (green juniper, pine, Douglas fir, savoury lovage, sandalwood), then you need to add a bottle to your line-up. We may be a nation of gin and tonic devotees, but that doesn’t mean your imagination has to stop at ‘ice and a slice’ when mixing up your chosen tipple. Read the gin’s label to find out which botanicals feature, and then choose a few as your garnish.

Any young distillery will know that competition means that you have to be innovative, considered and motivated to succeed as a business. This must be reflected in everything you do. So we are expecting this category to be hotly contested and some incredible young distilleries to make it through to the peoples choice finals. Our trusted panel of experts and consumer boozehounds sipped their way through over 100 different gins from leading distilleries and producers across the globe. Each was fully appraised for its complexity, length and finish, with in-depth discussions held on how best to serve it. Produced next to a lake nested in the Surrey Hills, the brand has turned its signature blue bottle bright orange to reflect the rare line-up of citrus fruit this expression contains. Lingering citrus oils on the finish, most notable yuzu and pomelo, ensure this is a gin you won’t forget in a hurry. And as part of our Newcomer Bursary Award, the possibility to win a year’s worth of marketing and event support in 2024 with The Gin To My Tonic (all costs covered).You may know Amarula for its long-loved cream liqueur, but the brand’s first foray into gin-making has been nothing short of spectacular. The base of wild marula fruit spirit gives it a distinctly tropical lilt, while brighter bursts of orange peel and lightly spiced grains of paradise round out the blend. Once your entry has been accepted and verified we will send you further instructions on where to send your 70cl (or 50cl) sample bottle along with the deadline. Meanwhile, Ukiyo Japanese Rice Vodka is crafted on the island of Okinawa, in a distillery known for making the local rice spirit, Awamori. Made in exclusive batches, you won’t find Oxley lining the shelves of your local — which is exactly why we love it. A cold distillation process captures botanicals at their freshest, resulting in a powerful gin and a higher ABV to match.

Disclaimer* We class a 'Distilled Gin' as a gin that has had flavours/botanicals added or has been macerated post initial distillation. THE JUDGING CRITERIAPublic voting will close on Sunday 5th November at Midnight at which point, the public vote will be combined with the judges overall scores (where appropriate) to reveal a Winner and two Runners Up.