Cricketer Shane Warne’s SevenZeroEight 23 gin has taken out Platinum Best of Class at the 2020 SIP Awards.
SevenZeroEight 23, a low-alcohol, low-calorie gin, also received the SIP 2020 Innovation Award. Meanwhile, the brand’s flagship 43% classic dry gin took home a Gold Medal.
SevenZeroEight is named after the 708 wickets Warne took at Test level.
While SevenZeroEight has won several award medals around the world during the past year, the distiller said the SIP Awards were especially important because they are consumer judged.
Despite the global pandemic, the number of entrants for this year’s competition saw an increase. A diverse combination of 981 spirits and mixer brands from around the world participated in the first ever at-home spirits tasting competition.
Jennifer Von Strohe, SevenZeroEight Director of Marketing and PR, said: “As a new brand with two new products launched less than a year ago, it is imperative we understand what the consumers feel about the product. The three SIP awards won along with our growing positive reviews from our consumers and partners, shows our commitment to premium quality and taste is being recognized and enjoyed.”
Warne added: “It is great to see the gin get so much recognition in our first year. 23 being recognised for innovation and Best in Class is especially exciting, I am glad people are loving the gin.”
The conception of 23 came from Warne wanting a mid-strength gin to drink guilt free while enjoying long afternoons watching sport with friends and family.
With his number 23 being the inspiration, the team formulated a gin inspired spirit with 23% ABV, less calories and the same taste as the original classic dry.
Due to 23’s popularity and low calorie draw, SevenZeroEight will launch its first pre-mix canned spirit, 23 Mid-Strength Gin & Handcrafted Slim Tonic, 75 Calorie 250ml can, in Australia this summer.
Currently SevenZeroEight is sold online at www.708gin.com.au and in various retailers, including all Western Australia Dan Murphy’s and BWS shops.
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Aussie RTDs blitz 2020 SIP Awards
An ALDI RTD has won Best of Class at the 2020 SIP Awards, with another five Australian pre-mixes taking out medals.
ALDI Striganov Vodka Crush Guava won Best of Class plus the SIP 2020 Innovation Award.
ALDI Striganov Vodka Crush Watermelon won Platinum, while the Raspberry and Lemon Lime variants won Double Gold. ALDI Bluegrass Bourbon & Cola also won Gold.
Striganov Guava, Watermelon and Lemon Lime won Gold at the 2019 Spirits Business Specialty Masters.
A Double Gold Medal was awarded to Curatif for its Espresso Martini (pictured main) at the awards.
“We love making great drinks,” said Curatif’s Matt Sanger, “and it’s awesome for our cocktails to receive this accolade. As this category develops we hope we can continue to impress with the quality of our product, which is in no small way a by-product of sound relationships with amazing distilleries and producers, both Australian and around the world.”
Curatif recently extended its range with a world-first ready-to-serve Decaf Espresso Martini made with partner brands Archie Rose Distilling Co and Seven Seeds Coffee, and a Plantation Rum Hurricane.
Archie Rose was also successful at the SIP Awards. Its Rye Malt Whisky won Platinum, its Opera House Inside Gin won Double Gold, while its Inside gin won Gold, as did its Original Vodka.
