Announcing the Winners of the 2025 American Distilling Institute’s International Spirits Competition

The American Distilling Institute (ADI) is proud to announce the winners from its 2025 International Spirits Competition. Since 2007, the American Distilling Institute has brought  together distillers, spirits educators, and industry leaders each year for its prestigious competition. As one of the most respected competitions in the world of distilling, the ADI International Spirits Competition honors traditional craftsmanship and celebrates innovation across a wide range of categories, from agave spirits and absinthe to whiskey, gin, and RTDs.

“Over the years I’ve seen the world of spirits evolve, so does [this] competition, adapting to reflect the innovation and trends shaping the industry,” says judge and global gin educator Keli Rivers. This year was no different. ADI introduced several new award categories this year, including a trophy for North American Sustainable Distillery of the Year, Perfect Pour awards to find which spirits make the best Martini or Negroni, and a trophy for America’s Greatest London Dry Gin presented by The Gin Guild.

ADI judges taste every spirit blind and are only provided basic information, such as category, ABV range, and age range, so every spirit is presented on a level playing field and evaluated solely by the quality of the spirit in the glass. This year, more than 40 judges and stewards from around the world gathered for three days in the San Francisco Bay Area to evaluate and score 700 entries. “Judging for [ADI]  is always an incredibly rewarding experience, surrounded by industry legends with decades of expertise from all corners of the distilling world,” says Rosie Milsom, former Global Head of New Product Development for Atom Brands and Craft Gin Club. “The product innovation gets more exciting every year, and the thorough feedback provided to every entrant ensures producers gain valuable insights. With ADI’s global recognition, it truly is a prestigious accolade for any brand.”

As one of the longest-running associations for distillers and spirit brands, ADI recognizes the diversity of skills it takes to bring an exceptional spirit to market. Because of this, ADI awards the best spirits in their class that were completely distilled in-house as well as those that bottled and or blended sourced spirits. Following are the spirits awarded in this year’s competition.

America’s Greatest London Dry Gin 2025 Presented by The Gin Guild

Griffo Distillery Scott Street Gin

Best New Spirits

Best New American Spirit: Suti Craft Distillery Whisky Rising Phoenix

Best New International Spirit: Calvados Christian Drouin ABC de Christian Drouin

Best of Class – Distilled Spirits

America’s Greatest Agave Spirit 2025: End of Days Distillery Castillo 1815 Blanco

America’s Greatest Gin 2025: Silver Star Spirits Devil’s Grin Gin

America’s Greatest Rum 2025: Evolve Distilling Caribbean Dark Rum

America’s Greatest Vodka 2025: Tashmoo Distilling Company Blue Water Vodka

America’s Greatest Whiskey 2025: Talnua Distillery  Bourbon Cask & Stave Series Single Pot Still American Whiskey

Best Distilled International Agave Spirit: Republica del Cocuy Verdor Cocuy Claro

Best Distilled US Asian Spirit: Suti Craft Distillery Rượu Đế SuTi – DZÔ

Best Distilled International Asian Spirit: Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute Sake Kasu Shochu

Best Distilled International Brandy: Ferrand Cognac 10 Générations

Best Distilled International Gin: Hernö Gin Distillery Old Tom Gin  

Best Distilled Liqueur: South Hollow Spirits Amaro Marino  

Best Distilled International Liqueur: Societe Des Vins Et Eaux-de-vie Fleur d’été Elderflower Liqueur

Best Distilled Ready to Drink: Griffo Distillery Espresso Martini Premium Cocktail

Best Distilled International Ready to Drink: Calvados Christian Drouin ABC de Christian Drouin

Best Distilled Specialty Spirit: Weiss Distilling Co. Arcane Aquavit

Best Distilled International Sugar Cane Spirit: Stade’s Rum Bond No 8

Best Distilled International Vodka: Ham’s Original Vodka

Best Distilled International Whisky: Kilchoman Distillery Batch Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Best of Class – Bottled & Blended Spirits

Best Bottled & Blended International Agave Spirit: The ImpEx Collection Mezcal Madrecuixe Felipe Cortes Batch No 0417FC

Best Bottled & Blended International Gin: Ginfuse Sunset Naartjie Gin

Best Bottled & Blended Liqueur: Trail Distilling First City Country Cream Liqueur

Best Bottled & Blended International Liqueur: Drillaud Blackberry Liqueur

Best Bottled & Blended Ready to Drink: Cutwater Spirits Long Island Iced Tea

Best Bottled & Blended Specialty Spirit: Bull Run Distilling Company Arak aged in Amphora

Best Bottled & Blended Sugar Cane Spirit: Kuleana Rum Works Huihui

Best Bottled & Blended Vodka: Hard Cut Vodka

Best Bottled & Blended International Vodka: Desi Daru Mango Vodka

Best Bottled & Blended Whiskey: Jos. A. Magnus & Co. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon

Best Bottled & Blended International Whisky: Stewart Whiskey Co. Caisteal Dùbh Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Sustainability Awards

North American Sustainable Distillery of the Year 2025: Cash Butte Distillery

Best Eco-Packaging: Aiko Brands Green Code Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Perfect Pour

America’s Best Martini: Barley Creek Brewing Company Blue Zone Gin

Best Overseas Martini: Hernö Gin Distillery Navy Strength Gin

America’s Best Vodka Martini: Rasmussen Farms Distillery Vodka

America’s Best Negroni: Griffo Distillery Scott Street Gin

For a complete list of ADI’s 2025 International Spirit Competition winners, click here.

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