Award-winning gin made near Banbury continues to win more global awards

While 2020 has been a tough year for many businesses, it has proven to be an amazing year for a new gin distillery in the Banburyshire area.

Sky Wave Distilling company was only formed about two years ago in Bucknell near Bicester but it has already won major global awards.

We reported earlier in the year that Sky Wave Gin was named the World’s Best Contemporary Gin 2020 at the World Gin Awards in February.

And now it has been awarded two top awards, the Master Medals, for its Navy Strength and London Dry Gin at the Global Gin Masters 2020

“We are absolutely bowled over," said distiller and co-founder Rachel Hicks.

"We had hoped for a bronze or a silver, maybe even a gold but to win the top award, a Master Medal, for both our gin entries is fantastic.

"It’s great that such a prestigious industry award, judged by leading spirits specialists, has recognised the work of our craft distillery, producing a premium gin.

"It’s a great endorsement for the creativity and quality of craft gin across Britain.”

The Global Gin Masters 2020, organised by The Spirits Business, finds and rewards gins across the world.

Judged in a blind tasting by a panel of spirits experts, the awards recognise excellence in a range of categories.

Awarding the Master Medal to Sky Wave’s London Dry the judges highlighted its “bright lemon zest, juniper and sweetness to balance”.

Adding another Master Medal to the Sky Wave stable for its Navy Strength London Dry, the judges described enjoying the flavours of “apples, pine, lemon zest” and deemed it to be “very sippable, even with the high ABV”.

The Gin Masters awards follows a successful start to 2020 when Sky Wave Gin’s London Dry was named the World’s Best

Contemporary Gin at the World Gin Awards, picked up a double Gold Medal at the China Wine and Spirits Awards and a Gold Medal at the Women’s Wine and Spirits Awards.

The distillery has also revealed its new London Dry, named Liberation, which reflects life under Lockdown as well as announcing the appointment of three senior staff.

“It’s been an incredibly successful six months,” said Sky Wave’s master distiller, Andrew Parsons.

“We have been developing new gins under Lockdown, building our online presence and undergoing a brand refresh.

"We’re now in a very strong position to grow the business with new partners and distributors.”