Kinsale Gin has been awarded Gin Of The Year, Gin Producer Of The Year, and a Double Gold medal at the 2020 Bartender Spirits Awards. The Irish spirits brand hails from County Cork and uses local botanicals to deliver a spirit reminiscent of the Kinsale countryside.
Kinsale Gin scored a 97 out 100 points and was one of just seven Double Gold medal winners at the 2020 Bartender Spirits Awards. This year’s competition saw submissions from 34 countries including new additions from Lebanon, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland.
The Bartender Spirits Awards aim to provide independent and honest reviews for brands who are looking to enter the U.S. on-premise industry. The judging panel consists of some of the most renowned names in the U.S. bar world.
“We really wanted a way to recognize those spirits that would be a great addition to any bar and that are completely on-trend in terms of packaging and price,” said Sid Patel, Founder and CEO of Beverage Trade Network. “Whether bartenders are looking to plug a very specific gap in their existing spirits inventory, or construct an entirely new cocktail menu from scratch, what better advice could they get than from fellow bartenders? Medals were awarded to those spirits that meet very specific judging criteria, with a goal of identifying spirits that should become additions to bar inventories. Each spirits brand was evaluated on Mixability, Balance and Versatility, Taste, Mouthfeel and Finish, Package and Price.”
Speaking about the awards, Kinsale co-founder Ernest Cantillon said, “We are really delighted with the awards as they couldn’t have come at a better time – we have just launched both Kinsale Gin and Red Earl in the US. These awards are based in San Francisco so the US credibility and press are invaluable.”
Kinsale Gin is owned by Cork’s Kinsale Spirit Company – co-founded by Cantillon, Colin Ross, and Tom O’Riordan – all current or ex-publicans who have spent their lifetimes serving drink and building extensive experience in the hospitality and beverage sectors.
Other drinks in their portfolio include the recently launched Red Earl Whiskey, the first of the company’s ‘Battle of Kinsale’ series of whiskeys, which launched in July.