Here it is, what is becoming one of our favourite and most anticipated annual traditions: Craft Gin Club’s Big Gin Awards!
That’s right, it’s time to look back at all of the incredible craft gins, tonics, mixers and snacks that we have sent to Craft Gin Club members in their monthly Gin of the Month boxes this year and name the best of the best.
How are the results calculated? Well, through the year we send out surveys to Craft Gin Clubbers (our amazing members) to find out what they thought of each month’s box. We then take all of that information into account to work which items are most deserving of each award - so it really is all down to our gin-credible members!
With categories like “Best Tonic Water”, “Best Sweet/Savoury Snack” and “Best UK/International Gin” it’s a great way to discover which ginny treats have been the most popular amongst Craft Gin Club members this year - maybe you’ll even find some treats that you are yet to try for yourself!
And, of course, most excitingly, this is where we name Craft Gin Club’s Gin of the Year 2021! Will it be one of your favourites?
This year, we have also taken a look at the wonderful array of goodies on the Craft Gin Club online shop and have named “Craft Gin Club’s Online Shop Chart Toppers” highlighting the most popular items that you can find there. Scroll down to see if your go-to gin is named.
There are lots of fun and intriguing results to get through, so, without further ado, let’s get started!
Craft Gin Club’s Big Gin Awards 2021
Best Tonic Water
Runner-up: Lixir Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water
Craft Gin Club members just adored the delightful balance of citrusy bitter and sweet tones in this fabulous pink tonic water, which we sent in our November 2021 Gin of the Month box.
Try it for yourself, here!
Runner-up: Hartridges Grapefruit
This crisp, bittersweet citrus-forward tonic water has been oh-so-popular with Craft Gin Club members ever since they first discovered it in Craft Gin Club’s March 2021 Gin of the Month box.
Get Hartridges Grapefruit Tonic at this link!
Winner:
Artisan Amalfi Lime
Lucky Craft Gin Club members were some of the first people in the UK to try this fantastic tonic water when it was launched through our February 2021 Gin of the Month box. Created by the remarkable team at The Artisan Drinks Co., it has a sumptuous medley of sun-kissed Amalfi lime flavours that members have absolutely loved. Yum!
This fabulous tonic water is available to buy on the Craft Gin Club online shop, right here!
Best Mixer (Non-Tonic)
Runner-up: Heartsease Farm Raspberry Lemonade
This berry-licious pink lemonade was an instant hit with club members when they tried it in our September 2021 Gin of the Month box.
Get yours at this link!
Runner-up: Bibite Polara Green Mandarin
With it’s brilliant green colour and complex, unique and delicious citrus profile, this Sicilian mixer was a fantastic addition to our October 2021 Gin of the Month box.
This fabulous mixer is available to buy right here!
Winner:
Luscombe Sicilian Lemonade
A symphony of Sicilian lemon flavours, this wonderful cloudy lemonade was sent out to members in July 2021’s box. Its beautiful citrus notes were the perfect match for Chemist American Gin in our July Cocktail of the Month, Craft Gin Club’s Peach Gin Iced Tea. Members have been in love with it ever since!
Top up your supply of Luscombe Sicilian Lemonade on the Craft Gin Club online shop at this link!
Tastiest Sweet Snack
Runner-up: YummyComb Sea Salted Caramel Belgian Milk Chocolate & Honeycomb Slab
Sent in our November 2021 box, this sweet treat is a mouth-watering mix of caramel seasoned with sea salt, the finest Belgian chocolate and crunchy honeycomb. We knew members wouldn’t be able to resist this one!
You can buy YummyComb here!
Runner-up: Bahlsen Choco Leibniz
These masterfully crafted chocolate biscuits had both the Craft Gin Club team and our members salivating when we sent them in our June 2021 Gin of the Month box. Their combination of high-quality chocolate and biscuit is just divine!
Winner:
Lindt LINDOR Milk Chocolate Truffles
Of course, we had to include LINDOR’s iconic truffles in our Christmassy December 2021 Gin of the Month box. So smooth and creamy and delectably rich, they are synonymous with the festive season. It’s safe to say they were a hit with our members!
Tastiest Savoury Snack
Runners-up: Nuts For Smoked Paprika Nut Mix
This smoky nut mix was popular with members from the moment they first tried them in our November 2021 box. Their deep, barbecue-like, savoury palate has brought a smile to more than a few gin-lovers!
Get your hands on these yummy snacks at this link!
Runners-up: Penn State Sour Cream & Chive Pretzels
Our July 2021 box was America-themed and so we just had to include these tasty, crunchy pretzels. Seasoned with flavours of sour cream and chive, they are so wonderfully moreish. It looks like members think so too!
Winner:
The Curators Smoky BBQ Almonds
The tasty bud-tingly mix of smoky BBQ seasoning and creamy, fragrant almond that can by found in these delicious snacks proved to be just what Craft Gin Club members needed to go with Chemist American Gin in their July 2021 Gin of the Month box. They were a hit!
Best UK Gin
Runner-up: Fynoderee Manx Dry Gin Elder Shee Special Edition
Our June 2021 Gin of the Month, this whimsical tipple was made exclusively for Craft Gin Club members by The Fynoderee Distillery on the Isle of Man. Its unique and utterly delicious mix of floral elderflower, grapefruit and woody herb notes made it a firm favourite!
Make this gin yours at this link!
Runner-up: The River Test Distillery Chalkstream Gold
The star of our March 2021 Gin of the Month box, this beautifully clean, aromatic London Dry won the hearts of gin-fans across the UK. Distilled on the banks of the River Test in Hampshire, this gin was launched through Craft Gin Club, meaning our members were some of the first people in the world to give it a try.
Buy this gin here!
Winner:
Cuckoo Solace Craft Gin Club Special Edition
Yet another special edition originally made exclusively for Craft Gin Club members, this gin-credible tipple was our May 2021 Gin of the Month. It is distilled by The Brindle Distillery in Lancashire and is brimming with a unique mix of classic London Dry and Mediterranean flavours that our members just adored!
Cuckoo Solace Craft Gin Club Special Edition is available to buy here!
Best International Gin
Runner-up: Chemist American Gin
Coming to Craft Gin Club from across the pond to be our July 2021 Gin of the Month, this is a tantalising tipple from Chemist Spirits in North Carolina. Its beautiful bottle and dreamy mix of floral, spice and citrus tones really struck a chord with our members.
This gorgeous tipple can be bought at this link!
Runner-up: Micil Spiced Orange Irish Gin
It was love at first sip when members tried this fantastic craft gin from the Micil Distillery in Galway, Ireland. Created exclusively for Craft Gin Club members, its warm orange and cosy spice notes made for a perfect October Gin of the Month.
Get this tasty gin on our online shop here!
Winner:
Mad Owl Special Edition Gin
2021’s November Gin of the Month, this remarkable craft gin from the Thornæs Distillery in Denmark has been adored by members ever since it arrived in November’s box. It has a deliciously citrusy London Dry palate that has impressed both members and the Craft Gin Club team alike.
Get your bottle of Mad Owl Gin on the Craft Gin Club online shop at this link!
And now, it’s time for the award we have all been waiting for:
CRAFT GIN CLUB’S GIN OF THE YEAR 2021
Drum roll please…
Cuckoo Solace Craft Gin Club Special Edition from Brindle Distillery!
That’s right, picking up its second Big Gin Award of the year, the coveted Gin of the Year 2021, as voted for by Craft Gin Club members, is Cuckoo Solace Craft Gin Club Special Edition!
Not only is this remarkable craft gin full of incredible flavour and held in a stunning bottle but it has also been used to help raise awareness of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. You can read all about this gin and the amazing work that the team at Brindle Distillery do right here.
And, while you are having a read through their story, you simply must try the gin in our May 2021 Cocktail of the Month, Craft Gin Club’s Cuckoo Bird, and our May 2021 Perfect G&T. We think they are the best ways to enjoy Cuckoo Solace Craft Gin Club Special Edition at home!
The most popular Perfect G&T
In each Gin of the Month box we send Craft Gin Club members, there is everything they need to create the perfect gin and tonic using that month’s Gin of the Month, a tonic that our team of experts have paired with that gin and some specially selected garnishes.
We asked Craft Gin Clubbers to vote for their favourite Perfect G&T for 2021. It was very close but we managed to get two fabulous runners-up and one winner.
Runner-up: July 2021’s Perfect G&T
A gorgeous mix of Chemist American Gin, Mulberry Creek Tonic Water along with blueberries and lime, to garnish. Click here or on the image below to find the full recipe:
Runner-up: May 2021’s Perfect G&T
A combination of Cuckoo Solace Craft Gin Club Special Edition, Marlish English Tonic Water and a garnish duo of lemon and juniper. Click here or on the image below to find the full recipe:
Winner:
October 2021’s Perfect G&T
This G&T brings together Micil Spiced Orange Irish Gin and Troughtons Raising Spirits Premium Indian Tonic Water with orange slices and cardamom pods, to garnish. Click here or on the image below to find the full recipe:
The most popular Cocktail of the Month
Just like with our marvellous Perfect G&Ts, members can expect to receive the main ingredients to each month’s Cocktail of the Month in every Gin of the Month box.
These creative cocktail recipes are developed by Craft Gin Club’s Master Mixologist, Maria Vieira, and they always pair the Gin of the Month with a mixer and a bespoke cocktail syrup made specifically for that cocktail. They never fail to get the taste buds tingling!
Here are the top three as voted for by Craft Gin Club members:
Runner-up: The Banshee
Created for our October 2021 Gin of the Month box, this vibrant, green-coloured cocktail is brimming with zesty citrus flavours. It combines Micil Spiced Orange Irish Gin with Bibite Polara Green Mandarin and our The Banshee cocktail syrup. Find the recipe here or by clicking on the image below:
Runner-up: Peach Gin Iced Tea
This was our July 2021 Cocktail of the Month. With its mix of tangy, fruity and sweet flavours, it’s no wonder members love it so much! Combining Chemist American Gin, Luscombe Sicilian Lemonade and Craft Gin Club’s Peach Gin Iced Tea cocktail syrup, it’s perfect for summer sipping. Find the recipe here or by clicking on the image below:
Winner:
Secret Garden
Our September 2021 Cocktail of the Month, our Secret Garden is a sumptuous mix of Cotton Garden Gin, Heartsease Farm Raspberry Lemonade and Secret Garden cocktail syrup. Together, they make for an easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing delight that’s fruity, vibrant and looks incredible in the glass. Find the recipe here or by clicking on the image below:
Best alcoholic miniature or boozy extra (non-gin)
That’s right, gin isn’t the only boozy treat that members can find in most Craft Gin Club Gin of the Month boxes. We often include miniature bottles of spirits and liqueurs that we know members will love trying out with their gin.
Here are three of the most popular among Craft Gin Club members:
Runner-up: Tia Maria Matcha Cream Liqueur
In September, Craft Gin Clubbers became some of the first people to try this silky-smooth, matcha-flavoured cream liqueur from the now-iconic Tia Maria, whose rum-based coffee liqueur has always been a good friend to gin. We were so glad to find that members love it as much as we do!
Find gin-credible Tia Maria and gin cocktails recipes here!
Runner-up: Thatchers Cider
In Craft Gin Club’s May 2021 Gin of the Month box, members received either Thatchers Haze or Thatchers Rosé cider, those scrumptious ciders have left a lasting impression on members. Who knew cider and gin could work so well together?
Try out these Thatchers and gin cocktail recipes!
Winner:
Campari
It’s no secret that Craft Gin Club members love a cocktail or two, so it will come as no surprise that Campari, a key ingredient in one of the most iconic gin cocktails, the Negroni (and who doesn’t love a Campari G&T?) came on top. Those delectably complex bitter citrus and herb notes are just delicious!
You can get full-sized bottles of Campari and miniature bottles in the Craft Gin Club shop here!
Craft Gin Club’s Online Shop Chart Toppers
This year, we are not only celebrating the treats in our fabulous Gin of the Month boxes but those on our online shop too!
The most popular flavoured gin:
Corner 53 Lemon Meringue Pie Gin
Yes, this gin does taste just like lemon meringue pie! Find out all about it here.
The most popular Discovery Gin:
For those who don’t know already, our Discovery Gin collection is here to introduce gin-fans to new and exciting gins that are made using interesting, creative and unique techniques and ingredients. The collection includes a gin made using a rock from the moon, Cherry Moon Gin, and a gin made with oyster shells, Isle of Bute Oyster Gin, to name just two. But our most popular Discovery Gin of 2021 is…
Campfire Cask Aged Gin
This gin’s bourbon-like tones have certainly charmed gin-lovers across the UK. Read all about it at this link.
The long-time favourite gin:
This award goes to the craft gin that has been consistently among our most popular gins the whole year long. It can only be…
Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Gin
This multi-award-winning gin has taken the world by storm to the point that it’s hard to hear the term “craft gin” without thinking about Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Gin. Read more here!
The best comeback gin of 2021:
This award goes to the gin that has returned to popularity on our online shop this year. The winner is…
Pienaar & Son Orient Gin
Our November 2020 Gin of the Month, it’s safe to say that 2020 was Pienaar & Son Orient Gin’s year. However, we have been amazed by its return to popularity this year - what a testament to its incredible flavour and the craftsmanship of the team at Pienaar & Son Distilling Co.
Buy this gin here!
The most popular gin gift set on the Craft Gin Club online:
Craft Gin Club’s Explorers’ Collection: Christmas Gins
With four miniature bottles of Christmas-flavoured craft gin from across the UK, it’s easy to see why this one has been so popular - it makes the perfect Christmas present for your favourite gin-lovers! Get more information on this amazing gift set here!
What a gin-credible year it has been! Congratulations to all the winners above!
Was your favourite gin a winner? Are there any gins, snacks or mixers from the Craft Gin Club online shop or any of our Gin of the Month boxes that you think should have been winners? Let us know in our Craft Gin Clubber’s Facebook Group!
Here’s to 2022, let’s hope it’s full of just as many delicious gins as 2021 has been and many more!
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