As a media partner of the 2025 London Spirits Competition, we’re delighted to unveil the results of this year’s event.
Now in its eighth year, the London Spirits Competition continues to raise the bar, evaluating entries not just on taste, but on their value for money and packaging appeal — an approach designed to highlight the products that truly resonate with today’s consumers and trade professionals.
This year’s judging brought together over 70 top industry experts, including master distillers, master blenders, mixologists, and elite buyers, including:
- Andrew de Lavis-Trafford – Head of Buying Spirits, Beers & Softs, Enotria Winecellars, UK
- Andy Loudon – Director of Bars at Scarfes Bar, Rosewood London
- Giannis Apostolopoulos – Head of Bars for Amazónico Restaurants, UK
- Claudia Carrozzi – Head of Beverage at Cunard & UKBG President
- Oscar Angeloni – Bar Manager at The Connaught
- Marcello Cauda – Bars Manager at The Berkeley Hotel, London
- Nick Larsson-Bell – Senior Spirits & Beer Buyer at Harvey Nichols
- Michele Lombardi – Head Mixologist at Four Seasons Park Lane
- Cristiana Pirinu – Assistant Director of Mixology at The Donovan Bar
- Emma Walker – Master Blender at Johnnie Walker
- Craig Wallace – Whisky Creation Leader & Master Blender at Diageo
- Laura Willoughby MBE – Low & No Alcoholic Drinks Buyer, Founder of Club Soda, The Mindful Drinking Movement
See the full list of judges here.
The competition once again attracted strong international representation from across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, including award-winning gins from India, premium whiskies from Ireland and Japan and vibrant craft spirits from Australia and the UK.
Spirits from more than 30 countries were entered, with the majority from the UK (13.7%), followed by Australia (12.9%), with Italy and the USA equally represented (each 7.1%). Gin was the most-entered category (28.2%), followed by whisky, liqueurs and rum.
Leading the pack was the acclaimed W.L. Weller Antique 107 from Sazerac, which was named as Spirit of the Year, Whiskey of the Year and Best Spirit by Quality — a stand-out achievement in one of the world’s most competitive spirits arenas.
Notable 2025 award winners Include:
- Gin of the Year: Ramsbury Gin – UK
- Vodka of the Year: Xaoma Gold – Kazakhstan
- Rum of the Year: Havana Club Gran Reserva 15 Años – Cuba
- Liqueur of the Year: Kaiho Ruby Organic Blackcurrant Liqueur – Finland
- Tequila of the Year: Gran Orendain Reposado – Mexico
- Single Malt Whiskey of the Year: Pedro Ximenez – Australia
- Flavoured Spirit of the Year: Tanqueray Bossa Nova – UK
- Best Spirit by Package: Chateau Koya Brandy XO 15 Years Old – China
- Best Spirit by Value: K-vant – Tanzania
Among producers, Sazerac stood out as a multiple-award winner with accolades spanning several whiskey subcategories, while Douglas Laing & Co. was named Whisky Producer of the Year. De Kuyper, Turku Distillery, and Pernod Ricard also saw major category wins.
Commenting on the results, London Competitions CEO, Sid Patel, said: “At the London Spirits Competition, a winning spirit must excel in quality, offer outstanding value for money and be packaged in a way that truly connects with today’s consumer.
“What makes this competition unique is that all products are judged by the highest level of trade professionals — bartenders, bar managers and buyers — who all understand what sells and what delights customers.
“Our winners represent the very best of the global spirits industry.”
To see all the winner follow this link.
Hand Crafted Drinks Magazine is delighted to have been confirmed as one of the media partners for the 2026 competitions, which have become international benchmarks for judging spirits, wines and beers on what really matters — quality, value and presentation.
The annual beers, wines and spirits competitions offer drinks producers an essential platform to gain recognition in the global trade and consumer markets, and judging by the results of the independent research we have carried out with various winners, taking home bronze, silver and gold medals brings significant benefits to the brand owners.
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