The only vodka to scoop an award in this year’s tasting, and what a vodka it is. With a “lemon drop sweetness” and some enjoyable citrus notes, the judges awarded this ultra-premium vodka, made from some of the world’s finest potatoes from Jersey, a Gold medal during the tasting. Runners-up in the Everleaf comp were Brett Oliver Yates from Manchester’s Speak in Code and Becca MacDonald from Bramble Bar in Edinburgh. Yates’ drink, Meadowsweet, was made with Everleaf Forest, maple Verjus and a birch honey tonic, while McDonald’s Val Gardena combined Everleaf Mountain, nettle and redcurrant cordial, lemon balm and soda. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ The first panel to gather at the Ibis Styles hotel in London Bridge comprised: Antony Moss MW, qualifications director at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET); Joyce Yu‐Hua Chou, translation project manager at the WSET; and Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business and chair of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions, who led the group. It was a Gold medal presented to this non-chill-filtered single malt whisky from the west coast of Scotland.

The brand also walked away with a Gold medal for their Takamaka Dark Spiced rum. Both are bottled at 38% ABV. To complete the Summer of Spritz campaign, the brand has launched its Everleaf Spritzes in 250ml RTD cans to meet consumer needs for different on-the-go occasions.

The verdict: Alcohol-free spirits

Made using botanicals sourced from the English gardens of the famous Berkshire-based Highclere estate, it would seem like the iconic castle is now rightly becoming known for more than just the setting for BBC dramas. Lees noted: “A very diverse category, good to see natural flavours and very good to see balance achieved.” Everleaf Forest was the first product debuted by the brand, and is a bittersweet blend of sustainably sourced botanical distillates and extracts carefully chosen to capture forest flavours, including saffron, Madagascan vanilla and honeyed orange blossom. The bottle received a Master medal in The DB & SB Spring Blind Tasting 2022.

By definition, non-alcoholic refers to any drink with less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (or ABV). Simply put, the alcohol can't build up in your blood as your body processes it nearly as fast as you drink it. Take a pint of 0.5% beer, for example, which sits at about 0.28 units of alcohol, and has roughly the same ABV as a very ripe banana. Yep. The three natural areas act as inspiration for the individual flavour profiles, as well as sources for the key botanicals used in their creation. Three Gold medals were also awarded in this flight: “well‐balanced, rounded” Everleaf Marine, “sweet and bitter” Fluère Bitter, and “bright, light and minty” De Kuyper Zero 0% Mojito. Six Silver medals completed the flight. Nine Gold medals gave this round a boost, with winners including: “refreshing, balanced and slightly sweet” De Kuyper Fizzy Watermelon; Fluère RTD Negroni, with “soft bitters, sweet orange” aromas; and “crowd‐pleaser” De Kuyper Fizzy Peachtree, which did “exactly what it says on the tin”. One brand that’s flying the flag for zero-ABV Spritzes is non-alcoholic aperitif Everleaf, which recently held the second incarnation of its nationwide Spritz competition. In a final held at Imbibe Live this year, Alessandro Todini from Seed Library in London took top spot, with an inspired combination of Everleaf Marine, a dashi and olive cordial and Mediterranean tonic, entitled Super Olive.

Sentia claims its drinks will make you relaxed and sociable – designed to stimulate your Gaba receptors in the same way as your first drink – but without the hangover.

Founded by conservation biologist and bartender Paul Mathew in 2019, the Everleaf portfolio consists of three expressions, each of which is anchored to different parts of the natural world: Forest, Marine and Mountain. Of course, Aperol isn’t the only traditional option when it comes to Spritzes in Italy, where you were just as likely to encounter options made with Campari, Cynar and more. Then there’s the Hugo Spritz, said to have been created in 2005, combining elderflower (nowadays St-Germain or something similar), prosecco, mint and soda water. Nc’Nean Organic Single Malt is bottled at 46% ABV. We recently interviewed Nc’nean’s founder, Annabel Thomas to talk about her trailblazing whisky and the future of sustainability in whisky production. Seedlip Spice also found favour with the judges, winning a Gold medal. Tasting notes included: “Clove oil, cinnamon, and warming Christmas spices.” The campaign features influencer partnerships, the launch of its first ready-to-drink (RTD) range, as well as a nationwide Spritz competition to be replicated at Imbibe Live in London on 4-5 July.A second Master was awarded to Pallini Limonzero, which offered a “great lemon aroma” on the nose. “Excellent body and lemony taste that resembles limoncello greatly. Slight spiciness at the end, but overall great,” noted Prousaefs.