Never Never Gin

Australia wins big at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

April 20, 2020
By Alana House

Never Never Distilling Co’s Triple Juniper Gin Export Strength has taken out Best Regular Gin at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The competition held its 20th anniversary judging in March, with almost 3000 entries from all corners of the world.

Founded in 2000, the SFWSC is one of the world’s most respected spirits competitions. Never Never was the only Aussie to win a Best In Show or Best Of Class trophy.

Never Never noted: “Amid all the doom and gloom we received some pretty amazing news that at least gives us some light at the end of the tunnel. Our Triple Juniper Gin Export Strength won best in class at the San Francisco Spirit Awards, the first time an Australian gin has managed to do so.” ⁠

Never Never Distilling Co’s Southern Strength Gin was named the World’s Best Classic Gin at the World Gin Awards in London earlier this year. Again, it’s the first time an Australian gin has won the prestigious award.

Lyre’s takes out 10 medals at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

In the brand’s first year on the market, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits was awarded 10 medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Lyre's Non-Alcohol Spirits

Gold medals were awarded to Lyre’s Aperitif Rosso and Dark Cane Spirit, while Aperitif Dry, Amaretti, Coffee Originale, and Spiced Cane Spirit received silver medals. In addition, Lyre’s Orange Sec, Dry London Spirit, White Cane Spirit, and American Malt were recognised with bronze medals,

The Lyre’s range draws from a library of over 12,500 extracts, all-natural essences and distillates to replicate classic spirits, all derived from a proprietary mix of international fruits, spices, and botanicals.

“It is brilliant to see Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits honoured with such a prestigious set of awards and I am even more pleased to see non-alcoholic spirits participating in and winning awards at competitions like the San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” said Lyre’s creator and co-founder Mark Livings.

“As the movement toward lower ABV and zero-proof drinks continues to rise, Lyre’s offers consumers an option to enjoy their drink, their way. We believe our collective medals from highly controlled blind tasting competitions makes Lyre’s the most awarded non-alcoholic spirit brand globally and undeniably reinforces the credibility of this new category and our range and flavour leadership.”

2020 Best In Show and Best Of Class winners at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Best In Show Unaged White Spirit: Defiance Navy Strength Gin, Manchester, United Kingdom
Best In Show Aged White Spirit: Rhum Savanna Traditionnel Le Must, France
Best In Show Whiskey: The GlenDronach Revival 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Scotland
Best In Show Brandy: Marie Brizard Anisette, France
Best In Show Liqueur: Château de Laubade Cask Strength Vintage 2000 Armagnac Bas Armagnac, FranceBest Vodka: Organika Life Vodka, Russia
Best Aquavit: New Alchemy Distilling Fylleangst Aquavit, California, USA
Best London Dry Gin: Bareksten Botanical Gin, Norway
Best Regular Gin: Never Never Distilling Co. Triple Juniper Export Strength Gin, South Australia
Best Flavored Gin: Whitley Neill Aloe & Cucumber Gin
Best Genever: Filliers Young & Pure Geneva, Belgium
Best Other White Spirit: Iichiko Wapirits Tumugi, Ōita, Japan
Best Shochu: Hombo Shuzo Akane Kaze 43 Shochu, Kagoshima
Best Baijiu: TTL Longtian Distillery Yushan Aromar Kaoliang Liquor
Best Tequila • Best Silver/Gold Tequila: El Sativo Organic, Kosher, Single Estate Reserve Blanco Tequila, Mexico
Best Reposado Tequila: Cutwater Spirits Reposado Tequila, Mexico
Best Añejo Tequila: Dano’s Dangerous Añejo Tequila, Mexico
Best Mezcal: Mezcal Carreño Ensamble 7, Oaxaca, Mexico
Best Cachaça: Leblon Cachaça, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Best Dark/Gold Rum: Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry Rum, Jamaica
Best Extra Aged Rum: Pusser’s 15 Year Old Rum
Best Straight Bourbon: Woodinville Straight Bourbon, Washington, USA
Best Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years: Kings County Distillery Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, New York, USA
Best Bourbon • Best Small Batch Bourbon • Best Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years: Barrell Bourbon Batch 021 10 Year Old Cask Strength, USA
Best Small Batch Bourbon – 11 Years and Older: Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Kentucky, USA
Best Single Barrel Bourbon • Best Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years: Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon, Kentucky, USA
Best Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon: Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series “Phifer Pavitt Reserve” Bourbon, Tennessee, USA
Best Craft Distiller Whiskey: ASW Distillery Maris Otter Single Varietal Single Malt Whiskey, Georgia, USA
Best Tennessee Whiskey: Davidson Reserve Tennessee Straight Sour Mash Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
Best Rye Whiskey: Parker’s Heritage Collection 13th Edition Rye Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
Best Canadian Whisky: Rare Perfection 15 Year Old, Canada
Best Other Single Malt Whiskey: Triple Eight Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt Whiskey, Maryland, USA
Best Single Grain Whiskey: Ohishi 10 Year Old Brandy Cask Matured Japanese Whisky, Kumamoto, Japan
Best Other Whiskey: Shin 10 Year Old Mizunara Oak Finished Malt Whiskey, Niigata, Japan
Best American Blended Whiskey: FEW American Whiskey, Illinois, USA
Best Flavored Whiskey: Catskill Provisions New York Honey Rye Whiskey, New York, USA
Best Blended Irish Whiskey: Hyde #6 Special Reserve Blended Irish Whiskey, Ireland
Best Irish Whiskey • Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey: Matt D’Arcy’s 17 Year Old Rum Finish Single Malt Whiskey, Ireland
Best Blended Scotch • Best Blended Scotch – Up to 15 Years: Buchanan’s DeLuxe 12 Year Old Blended Scotch, Scotland
Best Blended Scotch – No Age Statement: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal Blended Scotch, Scotland
Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – Up to 12 Years: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Islay, Scotland
Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – 20 Years and Older: Aultmore 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Speyside, Scotland
Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement: Aberlour A’bunadh Single Malt Scotch, Highlands, Scotland
Best Independent Merchant Single Malt: Port Askaig 110 Proof Single Malt Scotch, Islay, Scotland
Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky: Compass Box Whisky The Spice Tree Scotch, Scotland
Best Pisco: Mistral Nobel Pisco, Chile
Best Cognac VSOP or Equivalent: Martell Matured in Red Barrels Cognac VSOP, Cognac, France
Best Cognac • Best Cognac Extra-Aged/Vintage: Gautier Extra Since 1755 Cognac, Cognac, France
Best French Grape Brandy: Le Furet Lysens 30 Year Old Brandy, France
Best Spanish Grape Brandy & Brandy de Jerez: Torres 20 Hors d’Age Brandy, Spain
Best Fruit Liqueur: Righteous Seven Barrel Reserve Liqueur, Missouri, USA
Best Vermouth • Best Apéritif: Foro Rosso Vermouth di Torino, Italy
Best Pre-Mixed Cocktail: The Family Jones Automatic Jones Rock & Rye, Colorado, USA
Best Cream/Dairy Liqueur: Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Canadian Cream Liqueur, Ontario, Canada


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