Contemporary Gin: Creative Spirits Leading Innovation in 2025

Contemporary gin is now at the forefront of innovation in the spirits world. At the IWSC 2025, it became the largest gin category, with almost 300 entries - surpassing the 261 for Classic gin. This reflects the style’s dynamic evolution, where juniper steps back to allow a chorus of other botanicals to shine. Of all entries, an impressive 83% earned medals, underlining the category’s remarkable breadth and quality.

A Gold Rush for Australia

Australia dominated the Contemporary gin category, claiming four of the five Gold Outstanding medals and three additional Golds. 30 Knots Spirits’ Sea Spray Gin, Australian Distilling Co.’s Navy Gin, Nine Circles Distillery’s Signature Gin, and Turner Stillhouse’s Three Cuts Distiller’s Release Gin each scored 98 points - the highest in the category.

The success didn’t stop there. Forty Spotted’s Citrus & Pepperberry Gin, Four Pillars’ Navy Strength Gin, and Turner Stillhouse’s Three Cuts Founder’s Release Gin all received Gold medals, with 95 points each. Judge Ivan Dixon noted, “Australia stood out by a mile. So many exciting gins to try and discuss, each offering an abundance of character and keeping us engaged throughout.”

Japan’s Dual Identity

Japan also cemented its position as a powerhouse in Contemporary gin. Tokyo Hachioji Distillery’s Elder Flower 47 Gin and Morino Kyoto Distillery’s Kyo Wakan Forest Of Kyoto Dry Gin both earned 96 points, while Miyake Honten’s Setouchi Lemon Gin received 95 points and a Gold medal.

Olivier Ward, gin expert and IWSC Spirits Judging Committee member, highlighted the country’s growing diversity: “Japanese gin is splitting into two schools of thought. One leans toward a Westernised classicism; the other dives deep into regional heritage, drawing on sake, shochu, and whiskey production. Both approaches are fantastic and now co-exist on the world stage.”

Balancing Innovation with Technical Mastery

While 47% of entries achieved Silver and 45% earned Bronze, only 7% reached Gold or Gold Outstanding status. Judge Siobhan Feeley, distiller at Sacred Spirits, praised the category’s ambition “Gins that are creating new and enticing botanical mixes kept us coming back for more.” However, she urged producers not to sacrifice quality for creativity: “You should be bold and daring, but do not forget the basics when building flavour.”

Fellow judge Simone Spagnoli echoed the need for balance, warning that “A lot of not great products are currently in the market, confusing the consumers.”

A Badge of Trust for Trade and Consumers

Olivier Ward also highlighted Contemporary gin’s commercial opportunity: “Sometimes consumers doubt contemporary gin because it’s different. But a gold medal here is a badge of trust. It says you’re going to enjoy that second G&T, and the third. That sell-through confidence is something trade buyers and consumers both want.”

This confidence matters more as trends lean toward grape-based infusions, cleaner base spirits, and a focus on ‘from scratch’ production philosophies.

As veteran distiller Desmond Payne MBE, Master Distiller at Beefeater Gin, observed, “Gin has the ability, almost the responsibility, to be adaptable and move with the times.” The IWSC 2025 results show that producers around the globe are rising to that challenge.

Explore the top-scoring Contemporary Gins at this year's IWSC below, or head to our results page to see the full list of medal-winners. 

Score	Gin Name	Producer	Country	Medal
98	Navy Gin	Australian Distilling Co.	Australia	Gold Outstanding
98	Sea Spray Gin	30 Knots Spirits	Australia	Gold Outstanding
98	Signature Gin	Nine Circles Distillery	Australia	Gold Outstanding
98	Three Cuts Distiller's Release Gin	Turner Stillhouse	Australia	Gold Outstanding
98	Meridor Gin	Distillerie Combier	France	Gold Outstanding
96	Elder Flower 47 Gin	Tokyo Hachioji Distillery	Japan	Gold
96	Kyo Wakan Forest Of Kyoto Dry Gin	Morino Kyoto Distillery	Japan	Gold
95	Citrus & Pepperberry Gin	Forty Spotted	Australia	Gold
95	Navy Strength Gin	Four Pillars	Australia	Gold
95	Three Cuts Founder's Release Gin	Turner Stillhouse	Australia	Gold
95	Setouchi Lemon Gin	Miyake Honten	Japan	Gold
95	Gin	Kyrö Distillery Company	Finland	Gold
95	Gins Gin	Gins Gin Switzerland	Switzerland	Gold
95	Ginstr Winter Gin	Stuttgart Distillers GmbH	Germany	Gold