Three key Shetland Reel products have won awards at the world’s foremost wine and spirit competition.
It was silver medals all round as Shetland Reel Original Gin, Shetland Reel Ocean Sent Gin and Shetland Reel Blended Malt Scotch Whisky impressed judges at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. The competition is in its 47th year, making it the oldest in the world.
In the new category of Gin & Tonic, Ocean Sent, made with seaweed harvested from the Unst shoreline, went one better, winning a Silver Medal Outstanding, which underlined the quality of the product used in this particular drink.
One of our directors, Stuart Nickerson, had the following to say after learning of our success:
“It’s a huge honour to have won four medals in a competition which sets the global benchmark for quality spirits.
“We are a small distillery on Britain’s most northerly island, but we are pleased to be able consistently to produce high quality spirits that consumers and experts alike are enjoying.”
Judging for the competition is unique in having two stages. First, the products are tasted blind by expert panels, selected from over 300 fully experienced and qualified industry judges.
Products which receive the top medals are then subject to technical analysis before results are released, a crucial stage that ensures winners receive complete validation.
The awards come as the second batch of Shetland Reel Blended Malt Scotch Whisky goes on sale. Substantial exports of the last of the first batch have been made to Alberta and British Columbia in Canada and to South Africa, although a small number of bottles remain on sale in Shetland.
