INTRODUCTION

We are delighted to welcome you to the 2020 Gin Magazine Awards, which include the World Gin Awards, the Icons of Gin and the Gin Magazine Hall of Fame.

In this, the third year of these awards, we have been inundated by entries from all corners of the globe, and it shows that there is no let-up in either numbers of producers, high quality and pure enthusiasm for this exciting spirit.

First up are the Icons of Gin. These awards celebrate the people and places that best exemplify the innovation, energy and dynamism of the gin industry. These are always fascinating awards because we discover, once again, how interconnected and mutually supportive this sector really is.

The process involves peer-to-peer nominations; the shortlist (calculated by the team at Gin Magazine) is put out to an industry vote, which produces the winners.

The results are a demonstration of quite how breathtaking the combination is of this camaraderie, innovation and resulting consumer demand for the end products.

So it is with a palpable sense of pride that we present to you the winners from this year’s awards. All the names on the next few pages richly deserve the accolade, because they have been recognised for their excellence by their peers and competitors. One of the most pleasing things to observe is the new names and faces in these ranks. It is proof that the world of gin is still in rude health. Long may that last.

Later on, you will meet our new inductees to the Gin Magazine Hall of Fame, the roll of individuals who have made a profound and prolonged contribution to the world of gin. More about this can be read on page 90.

From page 91, you can pore over the greatest pours of 2020. In each category, we present the World’s Best and the country winners. A more exalted list of gins is hard to find.