WATCH: Vancouver Island’s Sheringham Distillery receives a top prize at the World Gin Awards. Ceilidh Millar reports.
If you’re looking to sample the best contemporary gin in the world, you’ll find it at Sheringham Distillery in Sooke.
The Island distillery took home the title as ‘Best Contemporary Gin’ at the 2019 World Gin Awards.
The awards bills itself as a global event selecting the very best in internationally recognized styles of gin, including Classic, London Dry and Genever.
“When you make your first product like that, and you pour your heart into it, you never think that it will be the best contemporary gin in the world one day,” said co-owner Jason MacIsaac.
The winners were announced at a gala on Thursday in London, U.K.
Sheringham’s seaside gin beat out competition from 23 other countries including Britain, the United States and Germany.
It may be the ‘West Coast’ essence that gives Sheringham’s gin that winning touch.
MacIsaac says the flavour profile for the craft gin was inspired by a walk along French Beach.
“We thought ‘how can we capture this region and this feeling into a bottle?” MacIsaac explained.
The gin contains ingredients like locally-harvested winged kelp, rose petals and Juniper.
“What really flavours our gin is all of those botanicals,” MacIssac explained.
The craft distillery was established in 2015.
Last June, Sheringham Distillery moved from Shirley to a new facility in Sooke where they hope to increase their capacity.
The distillery will be releasing a second brand of gin, called Kazuki, later this month.
Ceilidh Millar
