Coromandel Distilling Co. has been named "World's Best" for the second time, taking the top spot at the World Gin Awards.
Awildian Coromandel Gin, crafted by The Coromandel Distilling Co. in Thames, New Zealand, has been awarded "World's Best" at the World Gin Awards in London for the second time, making it the only New Zealand distillery to have achieved this level of recognition twice.
In 2022, Awildian Coromandel Gin was named World's Best Classic Gin, and this year it was awarded World's Best Matured Gin at the ceremony held in London on June 4th. This latest accolade comes on the heels of a gold award at this year's esteemed Berlin International Spirits Awards.
By reviving the Old Tom Gin style popular in the 18th century, Awildian Mānuka Gin is contributing to a spirited renaissance. This remarkable matured gin combines premium sugarcane alcohol with Tongan vanilla, Guatemalan cardamom, Madagascan pepper, Seville orange, fresh ginger, and sixteen additional botanicals. The result is a silky, warming spirit that is distilled in micro-batches and aged in carefully toasted Mānuka wood coated with local medicinal-grade Mānuka honey. Awildian Coromandel Gin beat out 42 countries, including Scotland's The Botanist Gin and Sweden's Hernö Gin, to claim the title of World's Best Matured Gin.
Co-owners Paul Schneider and Daniela Suess operate a small distillery in the heart of Thames, consistently performing well on the global stage with a series of prestigious awards, including at the IWSC, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and the World Gin Awards. In 2022, the Coromandel Distilling Company’s flagship Awildian gin was named the World’s Best Classic Gin at the World Gin Awards, marking the first time a New Zealand distillery has achieved this honour. They also won New Zealand’s Best Matured Gin that year. In 2023, they were recognised for New Zealand’s Best Classic, Matured, and Contemporary gins. By 2024, in Coromandel Distilling Co.’s third year of entering the awards, Schneider and Suess amassed an impressive five Country Winner Golds for its Colour-Changing, Classic, Matured, London Dry, and Flavoured Gins. This year was Coromandel Distilling Co.’s first year of entering the Berlin International Spirits Awards, while Gold was again awarded for Awildian Classic as well as Mānuka at the World Gin Awards. Schneider attributes Coromandel Distilling Co.’s success to its dedication to its craft.
“We are constantly working and imagining new ways to bring gin to life, but needless to say, we’ll be pausing for a drink to celebrate this,” he said.
Since opening its doors in 2019, the distillery has collected over 40 awards, begun exporting to Europe and Fiji, and opened a tasting room to accommodate the growing number of curious visitors to Thames.
The couple never anticipated a career in distilling gin. With five degrees between them, including a Master’s and a PhD, along with years of experience in conservation and postdoctoral research, they initially pursued different paths. However, their lifelong passions formed a perfect foundation for distilling: a shared love for the natural world and a commitment to preserving the wilderness and unspoiled environments. Suess, a hobby beekeeper, began experimenting with honey by-products, particularly mead, which sparked their enthusiasm for distilling and transformed it into a full-blown passion for crafting gin. Nestled in the heart of Thames, the distillery now welcomes visitors for tastings, sales, and private tours. Behind the scenes, Suess, Schneider, and the Coromandel Distilling Co. team are busy with distilling and fulfilling orders, continually innovating with their next creations.
The couple forages botanicals locally whenever possible, including those from their own distiller’s garden.
“I still can’t imagine another business that encapsulates all the facets of our lives like the distillation of gin does. That love for the wilderness and the passion for exploration and curiosity are all present. We named it Awildian because it means ‘growing wild’ or ‘refusing to be tamed,’ and we’ve never liked tame,” said Schneider.
Coromandel Distilling Co.’s business model is intentionally micro, focusing on environmental responsibility with a commitment to donating one percent of its revenue to local conservation groups. Coromandel Distilling Co. is dedicated to the long, thoughtful process of creating the perfect drop, yet they recognise the potential to scale up production in response to increasing demand.
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