The SF World Spirits Competition Crowns The World's Best Flavored Gin

Forbes

29-05-2025

The Flavored Gin Finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
Gin has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the spirits market. Within the gin sector, flavored gins have experienced the fastest growth, driven by the global expansion of the craft distilling movement. Four flavored gins and two barrel-aged gins are competing for the title of World's Best Gin in their respective categories at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Below are the backgrounds and tasting notes for the finalists.
LIONEST Red Gin is an aromatic gin from Taiwan, produced by LIONEST Distillery. Notwithstanding its name, the gin is clear, not red. Its founder, Anne Scheffer, was a perfumer who reinvented herself as a gin distiller and has gone on to win several major awards for her gins.
This modern gin blends fruit and florals while remaining grounded in juniper. The gin's primary ingredients include red rose, cascara, Fuji apple, red peppercorn, juniper, coriander, licorice, orange, Ceylon cinnamon, and roselle.
The gin is highly aromatic, featuring pronounced floral and fruity notes on the nose. It presents delicate aromas of rose, apple, orange, spice, subtle juniper, and slightly earthy cascara. On the palate, the gin is smooth and slightly sweet, showcasing floral and fruity notes alongside cardamom and cinnamon spices. The finish is long and slightly sweet, with lingering notes of floral, fruity, and spicy flavors.
Stylistically, LIONEST Red Gin represents an Asian-style gin that highlights floral, fruity, and spicy notes while maintaining a distinctive yet subtle juniper character. This style of gin is celebrated for its delicate balance of flavors and its unique approach to gin-making, often incorporating local and unconventional botanicals.
Produced by Gervasi Vineyard in Canton, Ohio, this small-batch gin is infused post-distillation with pink peppercorns, offering both spice and gentle warmth. It features a savory, spicy gin profile, rather than the usual floral or citrus-heavy varieties.
The nose is aromatic, featuring a floral and subtly peppery backdrop, followed by notes of juniper, citrus zest, spice, and herbal aromas. The gin is savory and spicy on the palate, with a pronounced peppery note, alongside flavors of grapefruit, juniper berry/resin, and a hint of clove and coriander. The finish is long and dry, with mild but lingering peppery notes and a touch of juniper resin.
Mermaid Zest Gin is a citrus-infused expression from the Isle of Wight Distillery in the UK. It's part of the award-winning Mermaid Gin range. Locally sourced lemon zest, bergamot, grapefruit, and rosemary are blended over a base of traditional Mermaid Gin.
The gin is herbal and aromatic, featuring notes of bergamot, grapefruit peel, rosemary, lemon verbena, and subtle maritime scents. The palate is citrus-forward, showcasing grilled citrus, lemon oil, rosemary, and juniper berries, supported by light floral undertones. The finish is long and flavorful, with lingering notes of maritime, mineral, citrus, and herbal character. This gin is perfect for citrus-forward cocktails.
The Big Pickle! Gin from Tree House Distillery in Massachusetts is an innovative gin infused with genuine pickle brine, dill, and savory botanicals. Crafted in small batches, it's designed as a flavor-forward gin for enthusiasts of dirty martinis or briny cocktails.
The gin has a briny nose, with aromas of dill pickle, celery salt, juniper, and a hint of earthy white pepper. It's salty on the palate, showcasing pronounced notes of pickle, fresh dill, cucumber, coriander, a hint of citrus zest, and a subtle but pervasive juniper note. The finish is long and savory, leaving a lingering, tangy herbal-saline note.
Big Pickle Gin is perfect for dirty martinis or a Bloody Mary. It also makes an intriguing Gimlet!
The Aged Gin Finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
Sorgin Yellow Gin is an aged version of the original Sorgin Gin, created by the Lurton wine family in Bordeaux, France. It utilizes Sauvignon blanc wine for its distillate and then ages the gin in Sauvignon Blanc barrels. The botanicals include juniper, citrus, violet, and gorse. The 'Yellow' edition introduces complex oak and vanilla notes contributed by the barrel aging.
The gin is complex and layered, featuring oak spice, vanilla, dried citrus peel, a hint of grape must, and juniper aromas. It feels smooth and creamy on the palate, showcasing notes of candied lemon zest, white pepper, subtle seasoned oak flavors, and a backdrop of floral botanicals. The finish is long and fruity, with lasting hints of vanilla, pepper, citrus, and a delicate trace of grape must.
Cathedral Ledge Distillery, located in North Conway, New Hampshire, crafts this small-batch, barrel-rested organic gin using USDA-certified organic ingredients. Aged for several months in lightly toasted oak barrels, the gin acquires color and layered complexity while maintaining a classic gin botanical core.
The gin features classic notes of spices, orange peel, toasted oak, and a persistent yet subtle juniper aroma. It's smooth and creamy on the palate, with noticeable mouth weight, showcasing candied/caramelized orange zest, allspice, juniper resin, vanilla, and various spices. The finish is long, with a mild tannic backbone and lingering notes of citrus, seasoned oak, and herbal botanicals.
Flavored gin is at the forefront of expanding the aroma and flavor profile of gin in new and interesting directions. While these gins retain many classic gin botanicals, even if the presence of juniper is often subdued, they also incorporate a variety of unusual, local, and non-traditional botanicals to showcase new and exciting flavor combinations. From briny pickles to red peppercorns and Mediterranean herbs, there is a gin for every occasion and palate.