Gold overload!
The last year has left us in awe at the some of the awards that came our way. Here’s a round-up of the moments that made 2019 a banner year in Adnams’ history.
Start as we mean to go on
It’s easy to forget that the distillery side of the Adnams operation has only existed for a decade. In that time, we’ve created a choice range of whiskies, gins and vodkas that we’re proud to say have built themselves quite a reputation.
We entered the year on a wave of joy after winning Vodka Producer of the Year at the 2018 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). The “incredible softness and elegant, silky palate” of Adnams’ Longshore Vodka won us World’s Best for a second time, supported by a silver outstanding medal for Adnams’ East Coast Vodka and silver for Adnams’ Rye Hill Vodka.
Produced from grain to glass, like all our spirits, and using three different local malts to achieve a beautifully balanced smoothness, this recognition for our vodka range was just the pick me up we needed going into 2019.
Local flavours win international acclaim
Whisky may not be the drink most readily associated with the Suffolk countryside. Which was why it was such an honour to take home the Gold Outstanding award for our Adnams’ Rye Malt Whisky at the following 2019 International Wine & Spirit Competition as well as a three Gold Awards at the World Whisky Masters 2019. Inspired by the village of Reydon, near our Southwold home, and made with rye from our Chairman’s farm, this world-class whisky is a truly homegrown affair. As the man himself says: “For me, it embodies everything Adnams stands for – using the very best local ingredients to create a range of outstanding beers and spirits.”
But Adnams’ Rye Malt Whisky wasn’t our only winner in the 2019 IWSC awards. We also picked up a silver medal for Triple Malt Whisky and bronze awards for our Single Malt Whisky and Copper House Pink Gin.
Three cheers for our beers
The 2019 World Beer Awards brought more success, with Adnams’ Ghost Ship 0.5% taking home a Gold Award. Inspired by a growing demand for low alcohol options, we installed a high tech de-alcoholisation plant, enabling Head Brewer Fergus Fitzgerald to filter out the alcohol at the end of the brewing process, via reverse osmosis, leaving 100% of the flavour and just 0.5% of the alcohol.
Our low-alcohol options weren’t the only winners, however. Jack Brand Earl Grey Lager was awarded top experimental beer in the UK, while well-established Adnams’ beers, such as Broadside and Triple Knot also picked up best in the UK in their categories.
Other awards included Both Barrels Oak Aged Broadside, which was awarded Silver in the Wood Aged Flavoured Category and our classic Ghost Ship 4.5%, which won Bronze in Pale Beer Speciality.
We’ve been bowled over by love shown to our spirits and beers in 2019. But we won’t be resting on our laurels. With some big landmarks coming up – including Ghost Ship’s 10th birthday – we’ve got exciting plans that will hopefully make 2020 an even more exciting and rewarding year.