Sandymount Distillery was awarded a trophy and named the best in the “Navy Strength” gin category at the 2025 New Zealand Spirit Awards for its Ladybird Navy Strength Gin.
More than 400 entries in total were received at this year’s awards.
Sandymount Distillery owner Richard Wilson said they were “thrilled” to take home the award.
It showed that their momentum was building.
“The whole business has snowballed considerably since I started it.
“It was just me up until kind of two years ago … it has definitely exceeded all expectations in many areas.”
The award marks the Dunedin distillery’s fourth consecutive win, each for a different category of gin, since it began operating in 2021.
In 2024, it won a trophy and was named the best in the “London Dry” gin category for its Lovers Leap Dry Gin.
It also won gold medals in the “Old Tom” and “Contemporary Modern” categories, in 2023 and 2022 respectively, at the New Zealand Gin Awards.
Sandymount Distillery won one gold, five silver and four bronze medals at this year’s awards.
