McLaren Vale’s Never Never Distilling Co has won big at the World Gin Awards in London, taking home World’s Best London Dry Gin. Their head distiller Tim Boast was also named World’s Best Distiller at the awards.
The two awards are a massive achievement and only the latest for the distillery that continues to break grounds in the industry with their successes.
Less than five years ago, Never Never began in the back of a shed in Port Adelaide, and have now become a shining star in the industry.
The award is the equivalent of winning the World Cup of gin, with the top entries from each country required to compete against one another until a winner is decided.
Never Never Distilling Co.’s Triple Juniper Export Strength won top gong in the London Dry category beating 30 other gold medal gins from all around the world.
It’s the second time that Never Never have put the South Australian gin distilling narrative firmly on the map winning World’s Best Classic Gin in 2019 for their Southern Strength Gin. It’s the first time an Australian distillery has won World’s Best Gin in different categories.
“When we first won World’s Best Classic Gin in 2019, it gave us an enormous sense of accomplishment,” says Co-Founder and Brand Director Sean Baxter.
“When we were nominated in two categories in the 2022 awards, we were just proud to be representing Australia.
“We didn’t really play sport as young men,” he laughs. “This is as close to standing atop of the Olympic dais as we are going to get.
“To lift the World’s Best trophy was an unbelievable accomplishment that we are still coming down from.”
The McLaren Vale distiller beat competitors from the highly fancied gin producing countries of England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Japan and the United States among many others.
London Dry Gin is one of the world’s most popular gin styles, making it an incredibly competitive category.
It’s rare for a gin distillery to win World’s Best in multiple categories; however, Never Never Distilling Co. have been able to consistently perform at a global level since launching the distillery in 2017, reaffirming their status as Australia’s most highly awarded gin distillery.
“To be considered the best in the world in both the traditional London Dry category as well as the classic gin category over several years show’s that our focus on generating more flavour in the gins we make is resonating with the world’s premier spirit judges,” says Baxter.
“It’s not by chance we keep getting these opportunities – we produce our gins by adding as much botanical flavour as possible.
“By adding more flavour, we continue to perform at the highest level, both at home and abroad.”
When Never Never Distilling Co. first tasted global success at the World Gin Awards with their Southern Strength Gin in 2019, their business was barely two years old and had a grand total of four fulltime employees.
“We hired our fifth the day after we heard we won, to help us answer the phone,” says Baxter.
“It was a huge moment for us as a small South Australian gin brand.
“At the time we were still producing in a tiny space in the back of a brewery, but it gave us the confidence that what we were doing was at a global standard.”
Skip to 2020 and the team had invested in the creation of a new distillery and cellar door in McLaren Vale, a new still to meet demand and an expanded team to continue to drive the gin’s success.
The results mark a brilliant start to 2022 for Never Never Distilling Co. given the hardships suffered by the brand and the whole industry over the past two years.
“Our ambition is to be Australia’s most recommended gin brand and with such outstanding global results it allows us to stand behind our brand messages, that more flavour makes better gin and better gin makes better drinks,” Baxter says.
You can support Never Never Distilling Co. by picking up a bottle of Triple Juniper Gin at your local bottle shop.
For more information about the Never Never Distillery and for all stockists visit www.neverneverdistilling.com.au
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